As shoppers hit the mall during the holidays, they’re not just fulfilling wish lists. They’re also filling their bellies.
Restaurant sales are getting an even healthier bump than sales at stores as people increasingly go out to eat in the last months of the year. Retail sales are expected to grow 3.7% in November and December this year, according to the National Retail Federation. Restaurant sales in the same months have been trending up between 4.2% and 6.4% since 2010, according to data from MasterCard Spending Pulse, which also found that November restaurant sales were up 8.1% this year over last November.
Often people are sitting down to a meal before or after a shopping trip. Some are in search of sustenance. Others are looking for an experience that leaves lasting memories.
