Check Please: Americans May Be Giving Up on Traditional Dining Experiences

Given the millennial perplexity for brunch and laziness, in a surprising turn, the The NPD Group reported that the number of restaurants in the United States actually decreased by two percent from a year ago to 620,807 units.

American consumers seem to be going out to eat less with total restaurant traffic for 2016 dipping slightly. "This is the most significant drop in total U.S. restaurant counts since the recession," said Greg Starzynski the director of product management for NPD Foodservice.

This decline saw restaurant density, the restaurants available per million population, decrease to its lowest level in 10 years, according to data based on NPD's Fall 2016 Recount.

It seems full-service independent restaurants took the hardest hit with traffic falling four percent and density declining from 1132 to 1002 units per million over the last decade, according to fall 2016 NPD data.

Does this mean you have to drive farther for Chipotle? Probably not.

The NPD reports that that fast casual quick service segment, which represents 80% of total industry traffic, was one of the few units to expand, increasing its restaurant units by seven percent to 23,798. In the same wheelhouse, the density of chain restaurants also saw increases from 860 units per million in the fall of 2007 to 922 in the fall of 2016.

Despite more hopeful numbers for the fast casual segment, The NPD's report may signal continued trouble for the restaurant industry. "If consumers continue to reduce their restaurant visits, we expect the number and density of restaurant units will continue to decline in response to the lower demand," said Starzynski. 

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