Restaurant Prices Climb 55% Since 2018

Numerator's October 2026 index shows quick-service restaurant prices and everyday household costs continuing to rise.

Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Inflation

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Do you think your household's everyday spending costs are getting worse?

Numerator reported that quick-service restaurant prices have risen 55.4% since January 2018, while everyday household purchase prices increased 0.6% in October 2026 after a 0.7% gain in September. The firm released its October Consumer Goods Price Index on November 9.

Why it matters

The gap between restaurant and household price increases highlights how spending patterns can shape the inflation experience across consumer groups. For U.S. households, the data point to sustained pressure on everyday budgets even as monthly increases moderate.

Numerator's Consumer Goods Price Index is built from roughly 7 million verified household transactions each month, showing everyday goods prices up 2.7% annually in October, up from 2.1% in September. The index does not yet indicate whether this acceleration will continue into November.

The players

Numerator

Numerator is a market research company that tracks consumer purchasing behavior through verified household transaction data.

The details

Numerator's price data reflect what consumers actually paid after promotions, coupons and loyalty discounts. Gen Z consumers saw everyday household prices rise 41.3% since 2018 and low-income consumers saw a 36.7% increase, with Gen Z experiencing 3.8% year-over-year inflation in October.

January 2018: Baseline start of the price comparisons.
August 2026: Consumer inflation concern reached a previous record of 40.5%.
November 9, 2026: Numerator released its October Consumer Goods Price Index.

Macro View

Numerator's Consumer Goods Price Index, which has tracked household prices since January 2018, shows cumulative increases of 34.8% for everyday purchases and 55.4% for quick-service restaurants. The October 2026 reading extends that multi-year pattern of elevated prices for consumers across income and age groups.

Households spending heavily on quick-service restaurants and everyday goods face cumulative price increases that have outpaced earlier periods. Monitoring monthly index releases can help families judge whether budget pressure is easing or intensifying.

The takeaway

Tracking everyday purchases against a consistent baseline can clarify where household budgets are feeling the most pressure. Reviewing category-level changes, such as restaurant spending versus groceries, may help identify where adjustments are most practical.