Food Costs on the Rise
Supermarkets and restaurants are costing us more.
The USDA’s Economic Research Service has a long history of reporting on food consumption trends. Their latest analysis demonstrates the impact rising food costs are having on how much we are spending to feed ourselves. U.S. consumers spent an average of 11.3% of their disposable personal income, the amount of money we have left to spend or save after paying taxes, on food in 2022; an amount not observed since 1991. The proportions spent inside (i.e., supermarkets, convenience stores, etc.) and outside (i.e., restaurants, fast food, etc.) the home are roughly the same—5.6%.
After a drop in 2020, there has been a sharp uptick in the return to “food away from home” purchases, as pandemic-related restrictions and concerns eased. But the prices of menu items are not the same as they were just a couple of years ago. The new reality is that it’s a big challenge to eat away from home frequently and still keep food costs on the down low.
See also: Food Prices Are Key to Eating Better
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD
Matthew Kadey, MS, RD, is a James Beard Award–winning food journalist, dietitian and author of the cookbook Rocket Fuel: Power-Packed Food for Sport + Adventure (VeloPress 2016). He has written for dozens of magazines, including Runner’s World, Men’s Health, Shape, Men’s Fitness and Muscle and Fitness.
