Independent Restaurant Closings are way up in the first half of 2016.

Soon, we will be publishing real numbers by state of independent restaurant closings across the U.S.

In the last half of 2015, there were more than 18,500 closings of independently owned restaurants (total universe evaluated- 385,000 locations) within their last 6-month period).

New closing numbers for the first half of 2016 are up an estimated 50% from the last half of 2015.

It\’s the largest increase we have seen since we\’ve begun tracking over the past 5 years.

Actual numbers by state, type and style are available.