PARIS In the US, prices in the restaurant trade haven’t risen so much since 1981.

According to figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the cost of a meal, a coffee at the counter or a sandwich rose by 6.8% last year.

Fast food restaurants and other outlets that serve customers quickly, without necessarily seating them at a table, saw menu prices that were 8% higher.

In February, eateries that serve their customers in a more conventional way showed a 7.5% increase in menu prices.

While restaurant owners must address the issue of labour shortages, they may also need to prepare for a potential drop in customers visiting their outlets.

As menu prices rise, consumers are considering cutting back on dining out.

According to a US study by the ICSC trade association, which represents shopping malls and other such complexes, nearly two-thirds of consumers say they would no longer go out to eat if their financial situation continues to deteriorate.

Indeed, the cost of food products increased by 7.9% in 2021.

Inflation is a real concern for half of the Americans surveyed, with 75% of them feeling the effect of rising fuel prices at the pump. Rising oil prices are also having an impact on home delivery services.

With a shortage of delivery drivers, owners of these kinds of restaurants may have no choice but to raise the price of home delivery menus, reports industry website Restaurant Business.