Rising purchasing power is prompting people to spend more in cafés and restaurants but more owners say they face financial difficulties, ABN Amro economists said in a new report.

Many owners are still struggling financially and high debts, sharply fluctuating food prices and a persistent shortage of staff continue to put pressure on businesses, the report said.

Turnover at cafés and restaurants rose by 5% in the first three quarters of 2025, partly driven by rising incomes.

Government economists expect spending power to increase by 1.3% in 2026, which the bank says is also likely to lead to higher spending in cafés and restaurants.

The number of bankruptcies among restaurants fell relatively sharply in October and November, while café bankruptcies have been declining slowly for several years.

Nevertheless, almost a quarter of small café and restaurant owners say their debts are a serious problem. Across the sector as a whole, 20% report debt difficulties, up from just over 12% in November 2023.

The strain is also visible in the number of closures. In the first three quarters of 2025, more cafés and restaurants shut their doors than at any point in the past 10 years.