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 May 2026 issue:

The conflict in Iran continues to negatively affect several economic measures, directly and indirectly. The combination of suddenly accelerating inflation and a stable labor market means that the Federal Reserve now appears more likely to raise interest rates in 2026 than it is to lower them, a stark departure from the start of the year when forecasters expected anywhere from one to four cuts. On the restaurant front, the good news is that menu prices are rising at a slower pace and consumer spending at bars and restaurants has now increased in each of the past three months.

• Overall inflation accelerated in March and April.
• Restaurant prices haven’t risen as quickly, and consumers continue to dine out.
• A stable labor market and rising prices mean rate hikes are now more likely than rate cuts in 2026.

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