January 25/Chicago/States News Service -- The number of U.S. restaurants in the country dropped by 1% -- or 5,551 total units, according to the NPD Group's most recent restaurant census.
NPD's Fall 2010 ReCount tracks commercial restaurant locations in the U.S., a survey that it updates each spring and fall. Overall, independent restaurants suffered the most, with a 2% decline in units, while the count of chain restaurants was flat. The number of QSRs dropped1%, or 2,122 units, while full-service restaurants were down 1%, or 3,429 units.