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Consumer Edge Releases 2026 Restaurant Outlook: Value Dining Outperforms Hype as Chili's, Texas Roadhouse and Raising Cane's Show Momentum

prnewswire.com
EAT Chili's is mentioned as a brand gaining market share due to fair pricing and consistent experiences, indicating positive momentum in the current economic climate. TH Texas Roadhouse is highlighted as a brand gaining market share by offering fair pricing and consistent experiences, aligning with consumer demand for value. RAEN

New Data Reveals Steady Restaurant Spending as Consumers Prioritize Affordability, Quality and Consistency

NEW YORK, Dec. 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Consumer Edge ("CE" or the "Company"), the leading provider of global consumer data-driven insights, today released its 2026 Restaurant Outlook, revealing that U.S. restaurant spending has held steady through 2025, even as consumers become more selective about where they dine and place greater emphasis on value and reliability.

With inflation fatigue setting in, consumers are being more intentional about how they spend their money. CE's transaction data shows that brands such as Chili's, Texas Roadhouse and Raising Cane's are gaining market share by pairing fair pricing with consistent experiences, signaling a new era where value, not hype, is driving industry growth.

Key findings of CE's 2026 Restaurant Outlook include:

"For restaurant brands, value in 2026 needs to go beyond discounts — they need to build consumer trust through fair pricing, consistent experiences and menus that deliver quality and satisfaction at every price point," said Michael Gunther, Vice President, Head of Insights, at Consumer Edge. "Today's consumers have adapted to years of inflationary pressures, and the brands seeing real momentum in this industry are those that treat value as part of their DNA, rather than a short-term promotion."

Consumer Edge tracks more than 600 restaurant brands across all major categories, including casual dining, family dining, fast casual, fine dining, quick service and upscale casual. The analysis also includes wallet share by income, market share across different transaction sizes, customer retention and loyalty trends and demographic exposure by both income and age — offering new visibility into how the K-shaped economy and generational factors are influencing consumer dining behavior.

Consumer Edge's full 2026 Restaurant Outlook white paper can be downloaded here.

About Consumer Edge

Consumer Edge ("CE") is a leading data and insights-as-a-service (IaaS) company specializing in the global consumer, B2B, and healthcare economies. Founded in 2009 by CEO Bill Pecoriello, CE delivers real-time, transaction-based intelligence enriched by deep industry expertise. Its solutions equip corporate and investment leaders with best-in-class tools for strategic decision-making, offering granular insights and benchmarking across products, brands, sub-industries, and industries. CE's unique capabilities turn complex data into clear, actionable insights that drive smarter, faster decisions.

Media Contacts

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SOURCE Consumer Edge