National Restaurant Association: Due in large part to declines in both same-store sales and customer traffic, the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) fell below 100 in August. The RPI – a monthly composite index that tracks the health of and outlook for the U.S. restaurant industry – stood at 99.6 in August, down 1.0 percent from a level of 100.6 in July. The RPI fell below 100 for the first time in eight months, as a result of broad-based declines in the current situation indicators. Restaurant operators reported net declines in both same-store sales and customer traffic in August, along with corresponding dips in the labor indicators...
