The Dow Jones Restaurant Industry Index is up 10% since January 1st.
Corn prices, which have risen steadily for a year, corrected recently and this helped the restaurant index regain momentum. We should be above 700 by year end.
If you haven't raised your menu prices to cover the costs, you will continue to experience downward pressure on gross profit. We'd need oil prices below $75 to become optimistic. This is possible but not a lock by any means.
As we see a renewed search for productivity gains, tech companies serving the industry should find the phones ringing in the second half of 2011. The iPad has helped to create some buzz with menu and ordering apps joining
Seasonal summer resorts should benefit from pent up demand for real vacations. With geopolitical unrest abroad, the old fashioned American road trip could get a deep discount as gas prices fall post-Memorial Day.
