News

Gallup: 80 percent of Americans eat at a QSR monthly

August 7, 2013

A newly released Gallup poll reveals that quick-service restaurants play a major role in most Americans' lives — eight out of 10 reported they eat at a QSR at least monthly.

Nearly half say they eat at a QSR at least weekly, while just 4 percent say they ever eat at a QSR. Slightly fewer Americans eat QSR fare weekly now than did so in 2006, when Gallup last approached the topic.

These findings come from Gallup's annual Consumption poll, conducted July 10-14, 2013.

Demographic, economic breakdown

Young adults — those aged 18 to 29 — eat at QSRs most often, with 57 percent saying they do so at least weekly. Fast-food consumption declines with age; the percentage who say they eat it at least weekly drops to 47 percent for those aged 30 to 49; 44 percent for those aged 50 to 64; and 41 percent among those aged 65 and older.

Men are more likely than women to eat QSR food at least weekly — 53 percent vs. 42 percent. Men aged 18 to 49 in particular eat out at least weekly, at 57 percent.

Across racial and ethnic groups, blacks and Hispanics frequent QSRs most often, with 52 percent and 53 percent, respectively, eating it at least weekly. Less than half of non-Hispanic whites (46 percent) by comparison dine at a QSR at least weekly.

Despite the recent shift toward value messaging for cost-conscious consumers, wealthier Americans — those earning $75,000 a year or more — are more likely to eat at a QSR at least weekly (51 percent) than are lower-income groups. Those earning the least actually are the least likely to eat out weekly – 39 percent of Americans earning less than $20,000 a year do so.

Read more about QSR trends.