Business picked up for the restaurant industry in June, buttotal sales still fell well below pre-pandemic months, according toan analysis of US Census Bureau data bythe National Restaurant Association.

Restaurant and food service sales totaled $47.4 billion inJune—marking the second straight month of growth after sales hit anadir of $30 million in April. (Total restaurant sales were 39.5billion in May, according to the association's report.) BetweenMarch and June, restaurants missed out on an expected $116 billionin total sales.

June's improved sales numbers were aided by many states andlocalities beginning to reopen after shutting down all but takeoutfood sales, the association report noted. But it's unclear whetherthat upward trajectory will continue now that COVID-19 cases arespiking in a growing number of states, which could promptadditional shutdowns in the restaurant and food service industry.California, for instance, in July banned indoor dining atrestaurants in many of the state's most populous counties due toincreases in COVID-19 cases.