NPD Group Says Restaurant Deals, Discounts Driving Consumers

CHICAGO—The NPD Group reported that discounted price, dollar menus and other promotions are driving customer traffic and keeping the restaurant industry in the black. NPD reports total restaurant industry traffic is up 1 percent for the quarter ending August 2008, and the modest gain is driven entirely by deals.

In the quarter ending August 2008, 23 percent of all visits to restaurants were prompted by consumer-perceived deals, which represented an increase of 9 percent compared to the same quarter a year ago. Non-deal restaurant traffic was down by 1 percent.

Source: Fast Casual: Consumers responding to restaurant deals, report says