Americans Keep Dining Out (and Tipping Generously) Despite Economic Worries

Even as many US households feel financially squeezed, eating out remains a top priority. Attest’s 2025 US Spending Trends Report finds that once basic bills are covered, prepared food – whether at restaurants or via takeout – is the most likely place Americans will spend extra cash. 

Just over 57 percent of consumers report spending on takeout food each month and 51.5 percent say they dine out at restaurants, which is more than the roughly 45 percent who make purchases in the apparel and personal care categories every month. 

In an economy where big ticket purchases are being delayed (purchase intent for items like smartphones, TVs, computers and sofas has declined), it’s likely that restaurant food is regarded as a more affordable treat. While this sounds like great news for the restaurant industry, it’s important to note that disposable incomes are under pressure right now and – despite continuing to spend on dining – the amount consumers are spending is modest.  

With Less than $300 in Disposable Income, How Much Goes on Dining?

With Less than $300 in Disposable Income, How Much Goes on Dining?

Our research shows that the majority of Americans (53.5 percent) have less than $300 in disposable income per month. Consumers with disposable income in this range typically spend between $25-$49 on takeout food monthly, and $25-$74 on dining at restaurants. While these figures aren’t huge, they constitute a fair chunk of people’s disposable income, highlighting how important dining rituals are. 

For the 45.5 percent of the population who have a disposable income in excess of $300, they typically spend a bit more on prepared food: $100-$149 on eating out and $50-$74 on getting takeout food. Very few consumers spend in excess of $300 on dining out monthly (just six percent), showing that even better off individuals aren’t necessarily splurging on food. 

We do see that consumers’ dining habits vary quite a bit by age. Young adults (18-30) skew toward dining in restaurants, whereas older groups favor takeout. The 31-49 age bracket spends the most on restaurants of any group: the single largest share of this cohort reports spending $100-$149 per month on dining out. Gender also plays a role; women are significantly more likely to have a low level of disposable income, which can limit dining budgets.

Good News for Tipped Workers

Remarkably, despite the rising cost of living and pressure on pocketbooks, our data shows Americans are tipping more generously. The typical restaurant tip jumped from 10 to 20 percent, following a substantial four-point gain over six months. In short, most people now tip 20 percent when visiting a restaurant, whereas previously diners were just as likely to leave a 10 percetn gratuity. 

Bartenders in particular benefit from this surge in generosity: 60 percent of patrons say they tip bartenders, and 45 percetn report tipping $5 or more. Younger consumers lead the way on bar tips: a full 52 percent of 18-30 year-olds leave at least $5 for their bartender, compared to 44 percent of 31-49 year-olds and 40 percent of those over 50. These figures suggest that younger diners not only eat out more often, but also tip more generously.

That said, tipping behavior does vary by income level. About 26 percent of consumers from low-income households (earning below $50k) admit to tipping servers less than 10 percent. Women are also more likely to withhold tips than men: 21 percent of women say they usually don’t tip service workers, versus 13 percent of men. But overall, the data points in one direction: Americans are increasingly willing to leave healthy gratuities for restaurant staff. In a tricky economy, many diners are consciously showing support for service workers by upping their tips.

Implications for Restaurant Professionals

For restaurant operators, these insights carry clear takeaways. Consumers want to eat out even when the financial outlook is uncertain, so there is still demand to capture. In fact, Attest finds US adults almost evenly split on feeling secure or insecure with their finances (39 percent secure versus 38 percent insecure), yet dining out remains a bright spot. Restaurants should lean into this trend: emphasize menu value, memorable experiences and promotions for tighter budgets. Catering to younger diners – who show the strongest appetite for eating out – can pay dividends. 

Staff and service strategy also matter: with tipping on the rise, operators can reinforce quality of service to maximize this benefit. Training and morale programs will encourage servers to earn those larger tips, and aid staff retention. Meanwhile, providing excellent service will help secure your restaurant’s share of dwindling dining dollars. 

Key takeaways for restaurant leaders:

• Prioritize dining-out experiences. Even as discretionary dollars shrink, Americans treat restaurant meals as a priority – over half dine out monthly.
   

• Target your audience. Younger adults and families are the core diners. Tailor marketing and menus to their preferences and budgets.
   

• Value and experience for the win. Consumers with limited disposable income will reward perceived value and service. Emphasize affordable options and customer incentives to build loyalty.
   

• Capitalize on tipping trends. With the modal tip now 20 percent, excellent service directly boosts staff income and retention. Consider integrating digital tipping technology to streamline gratuities.