Higher income households eating out less as consumer pain bites: survey

Households with higher incomes are dining out less frequently due to the heightened cost of living, according to new data from Restaurants Canada. The survey, conducted by Angus Reid in May, included 1,500 Canadian participants and revealed that 80% of all respondents have been eating out less often due to rising costs. This sentiment was echoed by 78% of households earning $100,000 or more per year, up from 70% in 2025.

While households earning between $50,000 and $100,000 annually showed a 5 percentage point increase in dining out less this year, those earning less than $50,000 remained relatively unchanged at 87%. Retail analyst Bruce Winder notes that the "K-shaped" economy, characterized by a widening divide between top earners and lower income brackets, is evident in consumer behavior.

Winder suggests that those with higher incomes are spending more, but the disparity also highlights that many in lower income brackets are cutting back on dining out due to the high cost of food, rent, and fuel. The Restaurants Canada survey also found that 61% of respondents would visit a table-service restaurant more often if they had more disposable income.