The Restaurant Index
Approx. cost of a meal per person (U.S. city avg), from BLS CPI Food Away from Home
Last updated: · Data through July 2026
The July 2026 Food Away from Home CPI implies a tracker level near $18.82, up 57% from 2015.
Then
2015
$12.00
Now
2026
$18.82
Change
2015–2026
+57%
↑ Rising
The Restaurant Index: 2015–2026
Approx. cost of a meal per person (U.S. city avg), from BLS CPI Food Away from Home
Source: BLS Consumer Price Index: Food Away from Home (CUSR0000SEFV)keepingupwithinflation.com
Historical Datakeepingupwithinflation.com
| Year | Price | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $12.00 | — |
| 2016 | $12.30 | +2.5% |
| 2017 | $12.70 | +3.3% |
| 2018 | $13.00 | +2.4% |
| 2019 | $13.30 | +2.3% |
| 2020 | $13.80 | +3.8% |
| 2021 | $14.40 | +4.3% |
| 2022 | $15.30 | +6.3% |
| 2023 | $16.30 | +6.5% |
| 2024 | $17.70 | +8.6% |
| 2025 | $18.10 | +2.3% |
| 2026 | $18.82 | +4.0% |
Analysis
The Restaurant Index uses the BLS CPI for Food Away from Home, scaled so January 2015 (index 253.037) equals an illustrative $12 meal. The July 2026 CPI reading of 396.859 maps to about $18.82, a 57% increase from that baseline.
This is not a surveyed average restaurant check. It is a CPI-based dollar proxy that makes the official price trend easier to interpret.
Updated August 15, 2026.