March 2, 2026 — Shifting trade and immigration policies, as well as rising operational costs such as labor, food, insurance, and energy, are among the top pressure points facing the U.S. restaurant industry this year.
According to the National Restaurant Association’s (NRA) “State of the Restaurant Industry 2026” report, this marks a continuation of issues faced in 2025, as 42 percent of operators said their restaurants were not profitable last year. More than 90 percent of operators cited food, labor, insurance, energy, and swipe fees as significant challenges.