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

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

April 2026 QSR Performance Summary

QSR Sales, Traffic & Pricing Trends Overview

Net Sales

QSR net sales rose +2.3% YOY in April 2026. With traffic down, the gain came from a 2.7% increase in average check, supported by both modest price growth and larger guest baskets as quantity per transaction (QPT) rose 1.2%.

Traffic

QSR traffic declined -0.8% YOY in April 2026, an improvement on the deeper declines seen in late 2025 but still in negative territory. Visits have not yet returned to growth. Guests are not coming more often, but when they do come, they are spending more.

Average Price

Average price for fast-food brands rose +1.0% YOY in April. Recent QSR pricing trends suggest that operators are taking a more strategic approach to menu prices as traffic recovery stalls. Brands are selectively raising prices on premium and core items while investing in value platforms to protect visits. Customers are adapting, trading down to lower-priced options and leaning into promotions. The result is a pricing environment defined less by across-the-board increases and more by precision, segmentation and value perception.

The risk today is reaching for blunt discounting when the data calls for precision. Brands protecting margin right now know which items to hold, which to flex and how their value offers are affecting traffic and mix. Price Studio combines AI-powered analytics with human pricing experts to give operators that level of visibility before prices go live.

Build Margin Advantage Through Financial Visibility

When margins are under pressure, operators look to pricing. But the brands that sustain profitability long term are the ones that also invest in financial visibility. Knowing exactly how every location is performing, where costs are climbing and which units are underperforming is what turns P&Ls into action. metiRi® is the multi-location franchise solution that gives brands the accurate, consistent financial data to do exactly that across their entire system.

Beverage Spotlight: Your Menu Is Leaving Revenue on the Table

Specialty beverages represent one of the highest-margin opportunities on restaurant menus right now. To optimize profitability with in-demand drinks, follow these tips from from RMS’ latest beverage consumer report:

The right guests are already in your restaurant. Gen Z, Millennials, families and dine-in dinner guests lead on every specialty beverage metric. The opportunity isn’t about finding new customers. It’s about giving the ones you already have a reason to order something beyond a soda. More than 1 in 4 guests are already buying specialty beverages every week.

Flavor sells mocktails. Health claims don’t. Unique flavor combinations are the top mocktail conversion driver among the 800+ consumers RMS surveyed. Health benefits rank sixth. Lead with flavor and let functional ingredients be the reason guests feel good about the choice.

Awareness isn’t the prebiotic problem, ordering is. Nearly 8 in 10 guests have heard of prebiotic and probiotic sodas, but less than half have ordered one at a restaurant. Better menu placement and ingredient-led descriptions are the highest-ROI tools for closing that gap.

What this means for operators: A menu overhaul isn’t needed to take advantage of the specialty beverage trend. Brands that invest in clearer labeling, flavor-forward descriptions and smarter pricing strategy now will be better positioned as functional beverage demand continues to grow.

Explore all the beverage insights →

Consultant’s Corner

Is a Lack of Financial Visibility Costing Your Franchisees?

Franchise profitability rarely comes down to one problem, which is why point solutions so often fall short. When pricing, financial visibility and menu performance are managed through disconnected tools, the full picture never comes into focus and neither does a clear path to better margins. Our latest blog explores why leading franchise brands are choosing an integrated partner over a stack of platforms. Find out what sets RMS apart.