Restaurants Canada’s CDI Continues to Underperform in March 2026
Restaurants Canada’s Consumer Dining Index (CDI) continued to underperform in March 2026, coming in at 85.9, down 6.4% compared to March 2025. This extends the softer performance observed in both January and February and points to sustained pressure on Canadians’ dining frequency.
Dinner occasions, in particular, have seen a notable pullback. The share of Canadians sourcing dinner from a restaurant once a week or more declined by two percentage points year over year, reaching 27% in March 2026. This trend is not unexpected, as dinner typically carries the highest average cheque size, making it more sensitive during periods of economic strain when consumers look to reduce discretionary spending.
When examining the factors influencing dining frequency in March, social gatherings and activities remain the only driver with a net positive impact, contributing 17 percentage points. This highlights the continued importance of restaurants as social hubs, even amid broader economic challenges.
However, affordability continues to weigh heavily on consumer behaviour, with a negative 40 percentage point net impact on dining frequency, making it the most significant barrier by far. In addition, broader global uncertainty is emerging as a meaningful factor. About 22% of Canadians reported dining out less frequently due to political and economic developments over the past month.
Ongoing trade tensions with the United States, combined with instability in the Middle East, appear to be shaping consumer sentiment. As uncertainty rises, Canadians are becoming more cautious and are pulling back on discretionary spending, with dining out among the categories most affected.
To read more, check out the latest REACT report here.
As a Research Analyst with Restaurants Canada, Sara Hamdy contributes to a research program that helps make Restaurants Canada a trusted source of insight for and about Canada’s $125-billion foodservice industry. Sara develops and maintains analytical reports and interactive dashboards that present key economic and market trends in a clear and engaging way for members and the public.
Her work supports Restaurants Canada’s advocacy and industry initiatives by transforming complex data into accessible information that guides operators, policymakers, and media.
