Restaurant traffic and sales improved in August. While spending continues to trend behind pre-pandemic levels, the rate of both traffic and spending declines eased in August, according to data from The NPD Group. During the month of August, traffic declines eased to -10% and sales traffic declines eased to -9% year-over-year.

The re-opening of restaurants helped to facilitate improved traffic and sales for restaurants. In August, less than 25% of restaurants nationally had inside dining restrictions. While the same was true in June and July, the increase in traffic shows that consumers are slowing getting more comfortable with dining out.

"As the summer progressed and mandated restrictions were lifted, an increasing number of consumers became more comfortable dining out based on the safety protocols restaurants put in place," David Portalatin, NPD food industry advisor and author of Eating Patterns in America, said in a statement about the report's findings.