Consumers say, 'Summertime 'n' the eatin' out's fine

Think consumers have totally traded eating out for ordering from home and eating in? Think again. A recent Lightspeed survey of 2,000 U.S. and Canadian consumers around summer shopping and dining habits showed that at least in these warmer months, consumers still want the actual physical restaurant or retail environment most, according to a news release. 

Aside from that reminder that the brick-and-mortar restaurant is far from dead, other survey results include: 

• More than half (in fact, nearly 60%) of North Americans named "food quality" as their No. 1 factor in a good dining experience. 
• Nearly half of Americans (42%) said when it comes to their retail dollars, they spend the most money on food in summer, with clothing No. 2 and hobbies and home furnishings No. 3. 
• More than half of North Americans spend pretty well on those outside-of-food summer shopping trips — up to $50 to $250 per trip, according to the survey.