Food services and drinking places

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Sales for the food services and drinking places industry increased 0.8% between August and September to nearly $4.1 billion in current dollars. During the same period, the price of food purchased in restaurants increased by 0.2%, as measured by the Consumer Price Index.

In September, three of the industry's four sectors posted sales increases. The largest advance, at 1.4%, occurred in limited-service restaurants where patrons order and pay for their meals at the counter.

Sales in full-service restaurants, the largest of the four industry sectors, increased by 0.8%, while sales at drinking places increased by 0.2%.

The special food services sector, which comprises food service contractors, caterers and mobile food services, decreased by 1.9%.

Provincially, Nova Scotia (-0.6%) and Manitoba (-0.4%) were the only two provinces to record lower sales. All other provinces posted sales increases.

Note: All data in this release are seasonally adjusted and expressed in current dollars.

Preliminary data are provided for the current reference month. Unadjusted data, based on late responses, are revised for the two previous months. Seasonally adjusted data are revised for the three previous months. An annual revision will take place every spring to update all months in the previous year. Revisions are based on information not available at the time of initial estimates, to improve data quality and coherence.

Available on CANSIM: table 355-0006.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2419.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Marc Racette (613-951-2924; marc.racette@statcan.gc.ca) or Pierre Felx (613-951-0075; pierre.felx@statcan.gc.ca; fax: 613-951-6696), Service Industries Division.