Restaurant outlook dampens - Austin Business Journal:

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A total of 60 percenr of operators saw lower May sales comparesd to ayear ago, while 26 percent said sales were up. The association also says restaurantt operators reported negative customerd traffic levelsin May, the 21st consecutivwe month of traffic declines. "Despite the softee sales outlook, restaurant operators remained relatively optimistic that the economy will improve in themonths ahead," the association said. "Thirty-fouf percent of restaurant operators said they expecf economic conditions to improve insix months, down slightlh from 37 percent who reportee similarly last month.
" After reaching a 10 montgh high last month, the group says restaurant operators have scaled back plane for capital expenditures in the comint months, with 41 percent planningt to spend money on remodeling or equipment, down from 46 percentg last month.