Americans are going out to restaurants more, spending nearly as much in 2011 as before the recession took hold in 2008.
Americans are fond of eating out, and the belt-tightening of the recession has eased.
The average household spent $2,698 dining out in 2008 – the peak year. By 2010, it had dropped to $2,505. In 2011, it began to rebound, to a household average of $2,620.
The wealthiest households (top 20 percent) spent $5,151 eating away from home in 2009.
Middle-income families spent $2,127 and the lowest-income households (bottom 20 percent) spent $1,038 over a year.
In 2010, the food service and preparation industry employed 4.1 million people. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects these jobs will grow 12 percent by 2020.
If it seems like you find the same restaurants everywhere, it’s a fact: A third of all restaurants are franchises.
In another sign of our recovering economy, Americans are visiting restaurants more often. Government figures show the average household spent $2,620 dining out in 2011 – nearly as much as in the record year of 2008, when it spent $2,698.
The jobs forecast for the restaurant industry is good. Food preparation and service positions are projected to increase 12 percent by 2020.
One-third of all restaurants nationwide are franchises.
Click through our photo gallery for more on America’s fondness for dining out. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. Are you joining the trend? Why or why not?