Heading into the fourth quarter of 2021, restaurant sales were showing positive signs for a rebound, according to Black Box Financial Intelligence. The industry had a strong showing in sales, and traffic growth for the week ending Oct. 17, 2021 posted the strongest results in four weeks. Year-over-year check growth was 5.7% during the week, the highest growth recorded since mid-April. Check size has grown at 5.0% or more during each of the last seven weeks. Fine dining improved in sales growth, but QSR fast casual and casual dining improved the most, by 1.9 percentage points or more during the week. During the measured period, only nine states had negative sales growth for the week timeframe: Wisconsin, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Oregon, Montana, Vermont, North Dakota, Wyoming and Hawaii. Full-service restaurants improved their net sentiment for ‘service’ during the third quarter compared to second quarter scores.