The news: Demand for restaurant delivery shows no signs of cooling.

• DoorDash said orders increased 27% YoY in Q1 2026, while monthly active users reached an all-time high.
• Uber’s delivery business posted a 34% jump in revenues and a 28% increase in gross bookings for the same period.

How we got here: The strong performances show that for all the price pressures facing households, convenience is one area that many deem worth the expense. The ability to order food, groceries, and other items on demand may be especially appealing as rising gas prices make consumers think twice about venturing to a store or restaurant. Still, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi noted that the company is not yet seeing any sign of weakening spending across its customer base.

At the same time, rising adoption for the Uber One and Dash Pass membership programs is helping to fuel order frequency and user retention. DoorDash had a record quarter for subscriptions, while Uber added 20 million members in the past year. These customers tend to be more engaged and spend more than non-members, making them an important audience to cultivate.

Implications for retail: Consumers’ strong affinity for delivery services like DoorDash, Uber, and Instacart highlights the critical roles that speed and convenience play in shaping spending decisions.

However, rising gas prices could dampen the momentum these platforms are seeing. While both DoorDash and Uber have introduced fuel subsidies to offset some of their drivers’ costs, continued rises in these expenses could be too much for many to bear, potentially resulting in a labor shortage that raises prices and lengthens delivery times for the consumer.

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