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The following is a snapshot of US Quick-Service Restaurant (QSR) trends for May 2026.
Note: Trends may vary slightly depending on data availability at the time of reporting.
| Metric | YOY Change |
|---|---|
| Net Sales | +2.3% |
| Traffic | -1.6% |
| Average Price | +1.2% |
QSR net sales rose +2.3% YOY in May 2026, the fifth straight month of growth. Average check climbed 3.5%, the strongest gain in over a year, and larger orders did most of the work: quantity per transaction (QPT) rose 2.2% against price growth of 1.2%. Bigger baskets, not more visits, are carrying sales right now.
QSR traffic declined -1.6% YOY in May, a step back from April’s -0.8%. Visits had been recovering since November 2025 before slipping again. The pullback tracks with what consumers have been saying all year: 38% of Americans report spending less at restaurants than a year ago, and visit frequency is where that cutback lands first.
Average price for fast-food brands rose +1.2% YOY in May. The restraint reflects a real shift in guest perception. In Revenue Management Solutions’ (RMS) Q1 2026 consumer survey, 72% of consumers said restaurant prices feel higher than a month ago. For the first time, more guests feel restaurant prices are climbing than grocery prices, and the room for across-the-board increases has narrowed accordingly.
Why This Matters
For the first time in over a year, more consumers feel restaurant prices are rising faster than grocery prices.
Restaurant sentiment held flat while grocery pressure eased 14 points. Fewer consumers felt grocery prices were rising, but restaurant perception didn’t improve with it. That widening gap is the comparison every restaurant visit now competes against.
That makes May’s growth mix worth watching. Rising checks alongside falling traffic is what RMS Chief Client Officer Bob Donofrio calls the opposite of balanced growth, and it can mask weakening guest momentum faster than the numbers suggest. The brands protecting margin are pricing item by item and channel by channel rather than across the board, and testing every move before it reaches the menu. Price Studio pairs AI-generated recommendations with RMS pricing experts so operators can model the impact on sales, margin and traffic before prices go live.
Revolutionize your pricing strategy with AI-powered analytics. Price Studio uncovers menu pricing opportunities, empowering you to make smarter decisions that increase your profits.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is now underway, with 104 matches across 16 host cities running through July 19. The lift won’t be evenly shared. RMS analysis of prior tournaments and transaction data from more than 7,000 US locations shows host-city restaurants near fan corridors can capture meaningful gains, while non-host markets with high soccer engagement saw restaurant sales decline 1.4% as fans stayed home to watch.
With QSR traffic already down 1.6% in May, the difference between capturing the viewing occasion and losing it to the living room matters more than usual. Our latest blog breaks down who benefits, who doesn’t and the four moves operators should make now. Find out where your restaurants fall.
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