September restaurant survey data indicated a 1.2% improvement in
same-store sales (SSS), while the third quarter had an overall
increase in SSS of 1.2%. This quarterly result represents the
strongest sales growth rates for restaurants in the past three
years and is the first quarter since the fourth quarter of 2015 in
which all three consecutive months were positive.
Even though the industry appeared stronger due to hurricanes in
Texas and Florida in the previous year, sales growth was impressive
across the entire country. All geographic regions reported positive
sales growth throughout both September and the third quarter as a
whole, with 76% of all designated market areas ("DMAs")
posting positive growth.
