U.S. Consumers Spend $115 on Restaurants and $235 on Groceries Every Week, on Average, According to Popmenu Study

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Jun 26, 2025, 05:15 ET

Two-Thirds of Consumers Are Scaling Back Personal Expenses, Impacting Restaurants, Retailers and Other Businesses

ATLANTA, June 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As tariffs, geopolitical tensions and other factors fuel economic uncertainty, 67% of U.S. consumers say they are reducing spending on everything from what they eat and what they wear to travel and leisure activities, alcohol consumption, and more. Three-in-four consumers (75%) are concerned that the U.S. may go into a recession this year.

This is according to new research by Popmenu, a tech leader serving over 10,000 restaurants. The nationwide study tracked dining and purchasing behaviors among 1,000 U.S. consumers, ages 21 and older, in June 2025.

When asked to identify top areas where they are cutting back this year compared to last year, a majority of consumers pointed to restaurants, followed by new clothes/shoes and entertainment.

61% - Restaurants
52% - New clothes/shoes
49% - Entertainment
47% - Travel
38% - Hobbies
34% - Groceries
33% - Streaming subscriptions
32% - Alcohol consumption
27% - Sporting events
27% - Personal grooming
22% - Charitable donations

A Closer Look at Restaurant and Grocery Trends

According to Popmenu's study, consumers currently spend $115 on restaurants and $235 on groceries every week, on average. More than half (57%) of consumers dine at or order from restaurants at least twice a week. The highest percentage (44%) prefer takeout, where they can avoid delivery fees and receive their food faster, while 34% prefer dining at the restaurant and 22% prefer delivery.

When consumers were asked to identify the types of restaurants they frequent most often, quick service restaurants ranked highest.

69% - quick service or fast food (ex: McDonald's, Culver's)
47% - fast casual (ex: Chipotle, Panera)
42% - casual dining (ex: Applebee's, Chili's)
38% - pizzeria
18% - coffee shop/cafe
18% - bar and grill
16% - buffet
15% - fine dining

Looking specifically at summer budgets, 44% of consumers expect to lower their restaurant spend compared to last summer, while 18% expect to increase it, and 38% anticipate no change.

How Consumers Are Managing High Grocery Costs

In addition to curtailing restaurant expenses, consumers are actively working to save on groceries by taking the following measures:

49% - purchasing cheaper or generic food items
47% - purchasing fewer snacks
43% - only buying necessities
43% - using coupons

"While the demand for good food and hospitality continues, consumers are growing more discerning with their finances as confidence in U.S. economic performance dips," said Brendan Sweeney, CEO and Co-founder of Popmenu. "Restaurants not only have to compete harder with one another, they have to compete with every other business out there trying to get a bigger share of consumer spend. Continually engaging consumers across digital channels and providing financial incentives to dine with you are now more critical than ever."

Survey Methodology

Popmenu conducted an anonymous survey of 1,000 consumers, ages 21 and older, across the U.S. from June 16 to June 17, 2025.

About Popmenu

As a leader in restaurant technology, Popmenu is on a mission to make profitable growth easy for all restaurants. Digital marketing, online ordering, and on-premise technologies headline a powerful product suite infused with artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and deep data on guest preferences. The company consolidates tools needed to engage guests, serving as a digital control center for more than 10,000 independent restaurants and hospitality groups in the US, UK, and Canada. For more information, visit popmenu.com.

Media Contact:

Jennifer Grasz
VP of Marketing, Popmenu
[email protected]

SOURCE Popmenu Inc.