Grocery prices continue to rise, but some states are feeling the brunt of the crisis

From 2020, grocery prices in the USA have increased According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, by 20%. According to the latest data collected by American households in 2023, American households spent roughly $270.21 per week on groceries. United States Census Bureau.

Hawaii and Alaska rank amongst the highest, with average weekly costs of $334 and $329, respectively. Both states receive a major amount of food from the mainland, so shipping costs drive up prices.

Californians pay a mean of $298 every week for groceries – the third highest in the country. The total cost of living in the Sunshine State is 38.5% higher than the national average, making it one of the most costly states lives in, according to.

On average, Mississippians pay $291 per week for food, it’s reported to be the fifth largest in the United States. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Mississippi’s poverty rate is eighteen%, making it the second most impoverished state in the country. Similarly, New Mexico is one of the poorest states in the country and food costs are amongst the highest.

Midwestern states like Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin have some of the lowest food costs in the country, with the average weekly grocery bill starting from $231 to $235. These states are amongst the leading agricultural producers in the country, which lowers food prices.

In August 2024, Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan announced that the agency planned to investigate grocery prices, which have been rising steadily since the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We want to make sure that major companies do not use their power to inflate grocery store prices for American families,” he added. Khan said in a press release. Additionally, this increase in grocery prices could have a fair more significant impact on Black Americans. While the overall poverty rate in the United States is 11%, data shows that African-American poverty is sort of 18%. collected by United States Census Bureau. In a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health, researchers discovered that compared to the national average, African Americans are more likely to experience food insecurity.