Business Wire·Sep 9, 2026, 8:00 AM ET

The 2026 Voice of the Retail Industry Survey: How U.S. Retailers are Feeling About Inflation, Expansion, AI, and More

Toast released its 2026 Voice of the Retail Industry Survey, revealing that convenience, bottle, & grocery store operators remain resilient & positive despite inflation & macroeconomic volatility.
The survey covered 340 decision-makers with 16 or fewer U.S. locations, including both Toast & non-Toast customers, conducted between April 3 & 20, 2026.
94% of operators rated their business health as good or excellent.
66% of operators plan to open a new location within the next year.
31% identified simplifying operations as a top goal, a 12-point increase from the previous year.
Inventory management is the biggest operational pain point, with inflation remaining a concern.
90% of operators are currently experimenting with AI to improve efficiency.
Top strategic goals include profitability (32%), improving employee productivity (27%), & adopting new technology (25%).
Operators aim to grow more efficiently by protecting margins, simplifying operations, & utilizing advanced technology amid an uncertain economic climate.