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 September 30, 2026. Figures are dated by the source noted with each statistic.
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.
Link to this statistic$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.
Link to this statistic3.4%
Year-over-year increase in food away from home prices
Food away from home prices were 3.4% higher in August 2026 than in August 2025. USDA uses this category for restaurant and other foodservice purchases.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Price Outlook, September 25, 2026.
Link to this statistic3.5%
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 3.3% to 3.8% forecast interval. Forecasts can change as new monthly data are released.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service, Food Price Outlook, September 25, 2026.
Link to this statisticMethodology 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 September 30, 2026. https://thesharedspatula.com/catering-statistics
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