Yelp data reveals the biggest winner, biggest loser in today's economy

Businesses across the United States got a bit of a boost in the first quarter of 2019.That's according to data that Yelp compiled based on store openings and closings and the preferences of its millions of users.The Yelp Economic Average found that salad restaurants are thriving, while grocery stores are feeling the pinch.US businesses kicked off 2019 right, according to the Yelp Economic Average. Yelp's data for the first quarter of the year found that, after a shaky 2018, the Yelp Economic Average jumped by eight-tenths of a point. It's just a fraction of a point, but it's a bounce-back from the 2.2 point decline that the average saw in the final quarter of 2018. To compile its findings, Yelp drew on data from its 34 million monthly app users and its 75 million monthly mobile web users.Read more: Yelp is using its data to evaluate the American economy — and it says these businesses are in a slumpThe Yelp Economic Average also takes into account seasonal fluctuations, business openings and closings, and consumer demand on Yelp. Consumer demand takes into account Yelp user engagement with different businesses, like page views, searches, ratings and reviews, and check-ins.As a benchmark, the last quarter of 2016 was assigned a score of 100. Overall, the third quarter of 2018 received a score of 100.7 from Yelp, while the fourth quarter saw a drop down to 98.5. The first quarter of 2019 was given a score of 99.3.Here's a look at how different kinds of businesses did throughout the country: