Spring-like Weather Boosts Restaurants Canada’s Consumer Dining Index
Restaurants Canada’s Consumer Dining Index (CDI) rose to 89.8 in May 2025, up from 87.0 in April. On a year-over-year basis, the index shows even stronger growth, increasing by 7.2 points compared to 82.6 in May 2024.
The strongest growth came from the dinner daypart. In May, 31% of Canadians reported purchasing dinner from a restaurant at least once a week, up from 24% the year before. This increase was largely driven by more frequent visits among consumers aged 35 to 54.
Despite the overall increase, certain dayparts lagged behind. The snack and coffee category saw a two-point drop from April, with a minimal year-over-year increase of one percentage point. Lunch showed a similar pattern, indicating continued weakness in mid-day dining.
Much of May’s overall rise can be credited to Millennial consumers (30 to 41 years old). In 2025, 56 percent dined out once a week or more, compared to 51 percent a year earlier. Gen X (42 to 59 years old) also made a notable impact, with 54 percent dining out weekly—up significantly from 42 percent in May 2024.
For more details, check out the latest REACT report here.
As the Chief Economist and Vice President of Research for Restaurants Canada, Chris Elliott manages and produces a comprehensive research program that has made Restaurants Canada a leading source of information for and about Canada’s nearly $120-billion foodservice industry. Chris tracks and analyzes key industry and economic indicators and translates them into member reports and publications. He also provides research to support Restaurants Canada’s lobbying efforts on issues that affect foodservice operators – from payroll taxes to food costs.
Chris has worked with Restaurants Canada for over 20 years, has a Bachelor of Arts and Master’s Degree in Economics and specializes in economic modelling and forecasting.
