Restaurant industry sales in Oregon are expected to reach a record $4.99 billion in 2006, according to the National Restaurant Association's 2006 Restaurant Industry Forecast. The projected annual sales would mean a 5.2 percent increase over last year – slightly higher than the national estimate.

From the National Restaurant Association
December 14, 2005

(Washington, DC) The U.S. restaurant industry will have a strong year in 2006, the 15th consecutive year of real growth for the industry, according to the National Restaurant Association’s 2006 Restaurant Industry Forecast. Though the growth will be strongest in the West and the South, the restaurant industry in all 50 states and the District of Columbia will continue to expand over the coming year. With expected national sales of $511 billion, a total economic impact of $1.3 trillion, and 12.5 million employees in 2006, the nation’s 925,000 restaurants are the cornerstone of the economy. On the state level, Nevada is expected to lead the nation in sales growth next year, while Arizona will post the largest growth in jobs by 2016.

“The nation’s 925,000 restaurants—even through the challenges of rising energy costs and major hurricanes in 2005—are entering 2006 with solid performances and optimism on both the national and state levels,” said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the Association’s Research and Information Services Division. “With the strongest gains in overall employment, disposable income and population growth, states in the West and the South are expected to lead the nation in restaurant sales growth in 2006. The restaurant industry in Nevada will have the highest sales growth of any state, followed by Arizona, Florida, Colorado, and Texas.

“As the industry grows, so will the number of career and employment opportunities in restaurant-and-foodservice establishments—by 2016, there will be an additional 1.9 million jobs available in U.S. restaurants. Again, the Western and Southern states will add the most industry jobs, with Arizona topping the list. Nevada is second, followed by South Carolina, Texas, and Alaska.”

Nationally, restaurant-industry sales are expected to increase by 5.1 percent in 2006. On the state level, Nevada is expected to lead the nation with 8.9 percent sales growth; Arizona follows with 8.1 percent, Florida with 6.9 percent, Colorado with 6.8 percent, and Texas with 6.7 percent. The highest restaurant-sales volume is expected in California, where sales are expected to reach $51.5 billion, Texas at $30.0 billion, New York at $25.5 billion, Florida at $24.0 billion, and Illinois at 17.1 billion.

With the number of restaurant locations in the United States growing to 925,000 in 2006, the number of restaurant jobs will also increase; the industry is expected to add 1.9 million jobs in the next 10 years. Arizona is expected to show the highest restaurant job growth by the year 2016 at 27.7 percent, followed by Nevada at 24.1 percent, South Carolina at 23.8 percent, Texas at 22.7 percent, and Alaska at 22.6 percent.

In 2006, California will have the largest number of restaurant-industry employees (1,369,700), followed by Texas (905,000), Florida (837,300), New York (647,000), and Ohio (538,100).

Below are listed state-by-state 2006 restaurant-industry sales in billions, the percentage of sales growth over 2005, and the number of restaurant-industry jobs that will be added by 2016:

Source: National Restaurant Association

Source: National Restaurant Association, 2006 Restaurant Industry Forecast

In addition to containing a national, regional and state-by-state sales and employment outlook, the 2006 Restaurant Industry Forecast provides details on the latest economic, consumer, operator, and workforce trends.

For more information, visit the National Restaurant Association’s Web site at www.restaurant.org. For additional local perspectives, contact the appropriate state restaurant-and-hospitality association, a complete list of which is available on the Association’s Web site. To order the Forecast ($24.95 for Association members and $49.95 for non-members), call 1-800-482-9122, or visit the Association’s online store.

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