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 USD 115 on restaurants and USD 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.
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