IFDA Monthly Economic Update

Produced with Sage Policy Group, Inc., this monthly report is exclusively created for foodservice distribution leaders to help guide strategic business planning. It provides bite-sized data and analysis of macroeconomic trends and outlook, as well as tracking of the most industry-relevant economic indicators. The monthly format delivers information in a timely manner as new government and private-source data is released, offering unique real-time insight and more accurate short-term predictions. 

Key takeaways from the December 2025 issue:

The longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history ended on November 12, yet it will take several more weeks before public data releases catch up. While most available data now pertain to September, two things are abundantly clear: the pace of economic growth has slowed meaningfully in 2025, but that hasn’t stopped consumers from spending at restaurants.

• The government shutdown is over, but it will be a while before public data catches back up.
• The labor market has slowed and inflation has accelerated.
• Consumers continue to spend at restaurants and bars, with sales greatly outpacing other retail categories.

Price: Free to all IFDA members as an exclusive member benefit.