U.S. restaurant outlook dims - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):

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A total of 60 percent of operatords saw lower May sales compared to ayear ago, whils 26 percent said sales were up. The associationm also says restaurant operators reported negative customet traffic levelsin May, the 21st consecutive month of traffiv declines. "Despite the softer sales restaurant operators remained relatively optimistidc that the economy will improvse in themonths ahead," the Association said.
"Thirty-four percent of restaurant operators said they expect economic conditions to improve insix months, down slightly from 37 percentf who reported similarly last After reaching a 10-monthj high last month, the group says restaurant operators have scaled back plans for capital expenditures in the coming months, with 41 percenr planning to spend money on remodeling or equipment, down from 46 percentt last month.