Webinar/Podcast
State of the Restaurant Industry: A Midyear Outlook Update
60 Min Watch
Restaurant operators face mounting challenges as rising costs and more cautious consumers put pressure on profitability. Meanwhile, the broader economy and consumer spending reflect a mix of resilience and uncertainty. This session delivers a data-driven analysis of current trends shaping the restaurant and foodservice industry and explores what lies ahead for the rest of 2026 and 2027—helping operators anticipate opportunities and prepare for potential risks in a rapidly evolving market.
**Please note: After this webinar takes place, it will be available for on-demand viewing. Please register even if you cannot attend the live presentation. You will receive a link to the on-demand presentation where you can watch at your leisure.
Register and Watch Recorded Webinar Here
About the Presenters:
Chad Moutray
Senior VP, Research & Chief Economist,
National Restaurant Association
Chad Moutray is Senior Vice President of Research & Chief Economist at the National Restaurant Association. He provides thought leadership and data and analysis to business leaders in the restaurant and hospitality industry. He also serves as a subject matter expert on economic issues, commenting on conditions affecting the restaurant industry via professional presentations and media interviews. He has appeared on various news outlets, including CNN, CNBC, and NBC’s Today Show.
Before joining the Association, Dr. Moutray served as Chief Economist at the National Association of Manufacturers, and as Director for the Center for Manufacturing Research at the Manufacturing Institute. He was Chief Economist & Director of Economic Research for the Office of Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration, and Dean of the School of Business Administration at Robert Morris College in Chicago.
Today, Moutray also serves as an adjunct professor of applied econometrics at George Washington University. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from Eastern Illinois University.
