Skip to Main Content

Economist’s Notebook

Key industry highlights from our Chief Economist, Chris Elliott's research, data, and insights.

Economist’s Notebook

Consumer Dining Index Dips in March 2024 Compared to February

Consumer Dining Index Dips in March 2024 Compared to February Restaurant Canada’s Consumer Dining Index (CDI) dipped slightly in March…

Economist’s Notebook

Restaurant employment tumbles 26,600 jobs in March

Restaurant employment tumbles 26,600 jobs in March Canada’s restaurant and accommodation industry shed 26,600 jobs in March compared to February…

Economist’s Notebook

Nine provinces report lower real restaurant sales in January 2024

Nine provinces report lower real restaurant sales in January 2024 Canada’s commercial foodservice industry began the year on a weak…

Economist’s Notebook

Restaurant Bankruptcies Soar 112% in January

Restaurant Bankruptcies Soar 112% in January The number of restaurant bankruptcies in Canada jumped to 121 in January according to…

Economist’s Notebook

Full-Service Restaurant Sales Falter in October

Commercial foodservice sales in Canada advanced by 6.4% in October compared to October 2022. Once adjusted for menu inflation of…

Economist’s Notebook

Menu inflation moderates to 19-month low in October

According to the latest data from Statistics Canada, menu inflation in Canada slowed to 5.7% in October after holding steady…

Economist’s Notebook

How Canadians Save Money When Ordering From A Table-Service Restaurant

According to Restaurants Canada’s latest Quarterly Forecast, the impact of an economic slowdown and higher prices are expected to slow…

Economist’s Notebook

Nearly half of restaurant owners are pessimistic about the future

Summer is usually a time of great enthusiasm and optimism for the restaurant industry as the warm weather and increase…

Economist’s Notebook

After a persistent sluggish performance, does breakfast improve in July?

According to Restaurants Canada’s latest REACT Survey, 62% of Canadians purchased breakfast from a restaurant in July 2023. This is…

Economist’s Notebook

Restaurants Canada Revises Foodservice Sales Forecast But Profits Remain Elusive

84% of foodservice companies reported lower profits in 2023 than 2019, and half of all foodservice companies are operating at a loss or just breaking even.