According to NPD, most casual dining users can be found in two age groupings - 18-34 and 35-49. Collectively, these two groups account for approximately 50% of all casual dining visits.
- While 18 to 34 year-olds comprise only 24% of the total U.S. population, they account for 26% of the total occasions at casual dining restaurants. The 35-49 age group accounts for 24% of casual dining visits.
- While the number of people in this demographic is still growing year-over-year, it's at a decelerating rate. Beginning in 2009 the trends for this key demographic begin to flatten out and actually decline over the next five years.
- The current consumption recession is putting significant pressure on an industry that has excess capacity. It appears that the demographic trends will complicate this issue.