Credit card transaction data show how much more lunch items cost and when diners are buying at restaurants. (GV Wire Composite/Paul Marshall)
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/16173534/highlights-banner-blue-300x94-1.png)
- Tech company Toast released its Q2 restaurant report, showing just how much restaurant prices jumped.
- Data also showed diners bought less late at night, opting for breakfast more.
- In California, increases in minimum wage corresponded with declines in tips.
Share
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
You may not know the brand, but if you’ve ever used a debit or credit card to buy food from a restaurant, you’ve probably used Toast’s technology.
The point-of-sale service company released its Restaurant Trends Report on Tuesday, detailing what people bought and how much they spent in April, May, and June.
What did they find? The sandwich’s dominance nationwide doesn’t extend to California, where the taco is king. Consumers also bought food earlier in the day. And, while cashiers in the Golden State are seeing a pay boost with the new minimum wage, it may be coming at the cost of gratuity, as data show Californians are the worst tippers.
Please Don’t Call a Hotdog a Sandwich. It’s a Taco
In 44 states, sandwiches were far and away the most purchased food item at a quick-service restaurant. That comes even as sandwiches experienced the second-highest jump in prices, climbing 4.6% year-over-year to hit $11.26.
The Golden State ranked No. 3 for the most expensive hoagies. While Californians paid $12.66 for subs, in Hawaii, consumers shelled out $13.37 for theirs.
But it’s not the sandwich that’s California darling. Tacos hold the honor of most purchased food item in California, Nevada, Oregon, and Texas. Taco prices also grew the most, climbing by nearly 6% to $5.81.
Hot dog prices grew the least, only going up $1.99.
Utahans must be pretty happy with their food choices as salads took the top spot there.
To all those in the Beehive State, just remember it’s what you put in the salad that makes it healthy.
Related Story: DoorDash Sees Record Orders and Revenue in Second Quarter Even as US Restaurant ...
Restaurants Said ‘Jump’ and Consumers Said ‘How High?’
In most cities, the average ticket paid by diners increased. That means either restaurants charged more, consumers bought more, or what they bought was more expensive. That, or a combination of all three.
In San Francisco, average ticket price grew by 1% year-over-year. But that didn’t dissuade diners as the number of transactions grew 4%. However, a 2% ticket boost in Los Angeles brought a 1% drop in transactions.
Atlanta, Georgia; Denver, Colorado; Columbus, Ohio; and Minneapolis, Minnesota had the biggest drops in number of sales, dropping between 4% and 5% each of them. It also came with a 3% jump in ticket size for each of those cities except Atlanta, which grew by 2%.
Are Better Wages Coming at the Cost of Tips?
In April in California, the state’s new $20 minimum wage for restaurant workers at major chains kicked in. That month, the median hourly wage surpassed $17 an hour for the first time.
Since January 2023, the average wage climbed just over $1 by June.
Nationwide, the average wage climbed just over $.50, going from $12.46 to $13.02.
Whether or not the two are related, the rise in wages came with a drop in tipping nationwide — at least those paid electronically. If broken down to tips earned per hour, across the nation, that amount peaked in April. Conversely, average tips in California dipped that month, going from $4.98 to $4.77 in the same month that minimum wage rose.
Tips recovered somewhat the next month but then continued their downward decline.
But for size of tips, California ranks the worst at 17.3%. Delaware leads the nation at 21.5%.
Forget Late Night Food Runs. We Want Our Breakfast.
Breaking down spending habits throughout the day, breakfast showed large gains while late night purchases dropped in nearly every U.S. city analyzed.
The 9 p.m. to midnight sales slot fell the most in Oklahoma City, dropping by 15% compared to the previous year. Denver and Seattle experienced 9% drops in late night purchases. Only in New Orleans, Washington D.C., and Houston, Texas did it climb.
In the morning, only three cities saw declines: Atlanta, Denver, and New Orleans.
RELATED TOPICS:
Tech Co. Offers Insight on Restaurant Bills. How Does California Rank for Tips?
59 mins ago
Ten Years After Losing My Son, I’m Ready to Bare My Soul About Suicide Prevention
2 hours ago
Fresno Police Arrest 13-Year-Old for Threatening a School Shooting
3 hours ago
Labor Costs Remain High for Small Businesses, but a Report Shows Wage Growth Is Slowing for Some
3 hours ago
Rams Face Major Challenges After Key Injuries in Season-Opening Loss to Lions
4 hours ago
Partial Eclipse of Harvest Supermoon to Light Up the Sky on Sept. 17
4 hours ago
Stock Market Today: Wall Street Holds Relatively Steady Following Weeks of Sharp Swings
4 hours ago
Francine Gains Strength and Is Expected to Be a Hurricane When It Reaches US Gulf Coast
4 hours ago
Exclusive: California’s Homeless Population Grew Again This Year, Especially in These Counties
2 mins ago
Categories
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/10102330/012524_Alameda-PIT-Count_LE_CM_04-1024x576.jpg)
Exclusive: California’s Homeless Population Grew Again This Year, Especially in These Counties
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/09115040/African-Childrens-Choir-copy-1024x576.jpg)
Fresno Chocolatier’s Sweet Treats Help African Children’s Choir
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/16175819/James-Martin-Charging-Doc-Photo-Combo.jpg)
Madera’s Ben Martin Convicted of Illegal Firearm Possession After Capitol Breach Convictions
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/10102613/diners-at-restaurants-ordering-more-expensive-food-earlier-in-the-day-_1280X720-1024x576.jpg)
Tech Co. Offers Insight on Restaurant Bills. How Does California Rank for Tips?
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/05134430/snowycap_a_photo_of_a_persons_hand_holding_a_purple_awareness_839c4b8b-2f35-47f5-9b26-a6f14462f74c_2-1024x574.png)
Ten Years After Losing My Son, I’m Ready to Bare My Soul About Suicide Prevention
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/10100508/Fresno-Police-arrested-a-13-year-old-Scandinavian-Middle-School-student-on-felony-charges-for-making-a-social-media-threat-of-a-school-shooting-with-increased-security-measures-in-place-as-a-pre-1024x538.jpg)
Fresno Police Arrest 13-Year-Old for Threatening a School Shooting
![](https://gvwire.s3.us-west-1.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/09142619/Fresno-police-are-seeking-the-publics-help-in-identifying-a-suspect-who-assaulted-a-47-year-old-unhoused-man-early-Monday-morning-leaving-him-with-significant-head-injuries.-Fresno-PD-1024x538.jpg)