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 September 2026 issue:

Growth won’t be an issue during the final months of 2026 for the U.S. economy. The fact that consumer spending is holding up – and even accelerating – in the face of ongoing inflation is impressive but also worrisome. Record high diesel prices are causing widespread price pressures, and it’s unclear how far the Federal Reserve will have to raise rates to tame this current bout of inflation. While demand at restaurants should remain robust in the months to come, menu price increases may eventually weigh on consumers’ willingness to spend.

• Inflation (and inflation fears) have worsened.
• The demand side of the economy, including hiring and spending, remains strong.
• The Fed is once again raising rates in an effort to quell inflation.

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