The following is a snapshot of US Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) trends for July 2026.

Note: Trends may vary slightly depending on data availability at the time of reporting.

July 2026 QSR Performance Summary

QSR Sales & Traffic Trends Overview

Net Sales

QSR net sales rose +1.4% YOY in July 2026, marking seven months of growth. At the same time, average check rose 2.5% against a 2.3% increase in average price, meaning check growth is outpacing price growth. That gap points to guests buying more per visit, whether through upsized orders, add-ons or premium items, rather than the increase being driven by price alone. The gain is modest, but sustained growth driven by guest behavior, not just pricing, is an encouraging signal in this challenging environment.

Traffic

QSR traffic declined -1.4% YOY in July. Visits have been recovering since November 2025 but stayed negative. The pullback tracks with what consumers have been saying all year: 33% of Americans report spending less at restaurants than a year ago, and visit frequency is where that cutback lands first.

Consultant’s Corner

What Restaurant Guests Value Beyond Prices

Guests spending more now outnumber those pulling back, but of those spending less, 1 in 3 trading down to cheaper items or cheaper restaurants. As our latest blog explains, guests aren’t just watching price, they’re weighing it against food quality, service and atmosphere to decide if a meal is worth it. Unlock your menu’s potential with RMS’ menu engineering and eye-tracking analysis.

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