The SharedSpatulaCatering

Reference guide

Texas food service and catering statistics for 2026.

A current look at the public figures shaping catered meals, restaurant sales, and food-away-from-home prices in Texas and across the United States.

Last updated August 25, 2026. Figures are dated by the source noted with each statistic.

A colorful catered spread prepared for guests

Key statistics

These figures focus on the foodservice market that event catering sits within. The spending figures are useful context for hosts, local businesses, writers, and planners comparing how people are buying food for gatherings.

$128.8 billion

Texas food-away-from-home sales in 2025

Texas households and businesses spent $128.767 billion on food away from home in 2025. The USDA series includes restaurant, catering, and other foodservice purchases, with taxes and tips.

Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Expenditure Series, 2025 state estimates, updated June 1, 2026.

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55.8%

Share of Texas food sales that happened away from home

Food away from home accounted for 55.8% of Texas food sales in 2025. This calculation uses the USDA's published Texas totals of $128.767 billion away from home and $230.668 billion across all food sales.

Source: Calculated from USDA Economic Research Service Food Expenditure Series, 2025 state estimates, updated June 1, 2026.

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$1.005 trillion

U.S. restaurant food sales in 2025

Full-service and limited-service restaurants together recorded about $1.005 trillion in food sales in 2025. The total combines $488.4 billion at full-service restaurants and $516.1 billion at limited-service restaurants.

Source: Calculated from USDA Economic Research Service monthly food-sales estimates for 2025, updated August 19, 2026.

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3.8%

Food-away-from-home price increase in 2025

Prices for food away from home rose 3.8% in 2025. USDA uses this category for restaurant and other foodservice purchases.

Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Price Outlook, July 24, 2026.

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3.5%

USDA's 2026 food-away-from-home price forecast

USDA projected a 3.5% increase in food-away-from-home prices for 2026, with a 3.0% to 3.9% prediction interval. Forecasts can change as new monthly data are released.

Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Price Outlook, July 24, 2026.

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Methodology and sources

How to read these figures.

Food away from home includes restaurant, catering, and other foodservice purchases. Dollar figures use the USDA's current-dollar estimates and include taxes and tips where stated. Derived figures are labeled as calculations and rounded for readability.

Primary data comes from the USDA Economic Research Service Food Expenditure Series and the USDA Economic Research Service Food Price Outlook. This page is reviewed monthly, or sooner when either source publishes a material update.

Cite this page

Texas Food Service & Catering Statistics 2026.

The Shared Spatula. Updated August 25, 2026. https://thesharedspatula.com/catering-statistics

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