The 2016 Restaurant Unit Report details and segments the volume of restaurants in operation across the 50 United States.

BBQ is king in the South and Alabama is the state with the highest percent of BBQ restaurants in the nation.

In 2014, the US restaurant industry showed a favorable 2 percent positive net market change. The industry has almost completely rebounded to numbers not seen since 2009, which was before the most recent recession.

Based on its tracking of U.S. restaurant openings, closings and changes in ownership, CHD Expert finds plenty of evidence that traditional restaurants offering value-oriented foods fared better than others during the first six months of 2012.