Fast Food Industry Statistics 2026

U.S. limited-service meal prices rose 3.2% in the 12 months through August 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The National Restaurant Association's forecast for 2026 restaurant and foodservice sales growth, revised in July to 4.3%, describes a broader industry and a different measure.

This reference brings together public figures available on September 16, 2026. Each number keeps its geography, period and population attached so operators can distinguish current conditions from forecasts and historical research.

The main figures at a glance#

Sources: National Restaurant Association outlook, BLS prices, BLS employment and CDC consumption research.

How large is the industry?#

In February, the National Restaurant Association projected $1.55 trillion in 2026 sales for the U.S. restaurant and foodservice industry. Its opening forecast also put industry employment at 15.8 million for the year.

Those totals cover restaurant and foodservice businesses beyond fast food. They are annual projections, rather than a completed 2026 sales count or a fast-food-only workforce estimate.

The Association's July 22 update reduced expected nominal sales growth from 4.8% to 4.3%, and expected inflation-adjusted growth from 1.3% to 0.8%. The later growth forecast supersedes the earlier growth outlook. The $1.55 trillion figure is the Association's February projection.

What is happening to menu prices?#

The BLS release published September 11 reported that limited-service meal prices were unchanged in August on an unadjusted basis, while their 12-month increase was 3.2%.

For comparison, full-service meal prices rose 3.5% over the year. The broader food-away-from-home index increased 3.4%, and grocery prices, measured by the food-at-home index, rose 2.2%.

These are consumer price indexes. They describe prices paid by customers, rather than the cost of a restaurant's wholesale ingredients or its profit margin. A national annual price change also differs from the change on any particular restaurant's menu.

What does the employment report measure?#

The September 4 BLS employment release estimated that food services and drinking places added 59,000 jobs in August. The preceding 12 months had averaged an increase of 12,000 jobs per month.

That industry grouping extends beyond quick-service restaurants. The result is a net payroll change, not a count of vacancies, hires or people who left their jobs. August's estimate is preliminary and subject to revision as more establishment reports arrive.

How often do Americans eat fast food?#

The CDC's June 2025 report found that 32.0% of U.S. adults age 20 and older consumed fast food on a given day during August 2021 through August 2023.

That does not mean 32.0% ate it every day. The estimate measures consumption on a surveyed day, rather than a weekly habit or a 2026 purchase pattern.

Adults obtained an average 11.7% of daily calories from fast food during that survey period. The share was 15.2% among ages 20–39, 11.9% among ages 40–59 and 7.6% among people 60 or older.

Why chain revenue comparisons need a definition#

McDonald's 2025 earnings release illustrates the difference. It reported more than $139 billion in global systemwide sales and $26.885 billion in consolidated revenue for the same year.

Systemwide sales include customer spending at company-operated and franchised restaurants. Company revenue includes sales at company-operated restaurants and fees from franchised restaurants; franchisees' restaurant sales are not recorded as company revenue.

Both figures describe McDonald's, but they cannot occupy the same column in a like-for-like chain sales ranking. A comparable table also needs a shared geography and reporting period. Neither global figure is a measure of the entire U.S. fast-food market.