In another sign of our recovering economy, Americans are visiting restaurants more often. Government figures show the average household spent $2,620 dining out in 2011 – nearly as much as in the record year of 2008, when it spent $2,698.
The jobs forecast for the restaurant industry is good. Food preparation and service positions are projected to increase 12 percent by 2020.
One-third of all restaurants nationwide are franchises.
Click through our photo gallery for more on America’s fondness for dining out. See “What Do Others Say?” for more views, then add to the discussion below. Are you joining the trend? Why or why not?
