Pew Research: Food Costs in America - What’s Driving Concern

Food prices are a top concern for American families—especially women, working-class households, and communities of color—amid inflation, new tariffs, and deepening inequality.

A recent Pew Research Center study found that 62% of U.S. adults say food cost is a top priority when grocery shopping, more than healthiness or convenience. Among lower-income households, that number rises to 75%. While prices have gone up across the board, healthy foods are especially unaffordable—with 69% of Americans saying higher costs make it harder to eat well.

Since January 2020, grocery prices have risen more than 28%, with eggs (+116%), margarine (+60%), and other basics seeing dramatic increases. These spikes hit freelancers, gig workers, single parents, and especially mothers the hardest.

Food insecurity is also rising. In 2023, 13.5% of U.S. households couldn’t always afford enough to eat—the highest rate in years. The burden fell heaviest on households with children under 18, where 17.9% were food insecure. Among single-mother households, the number was even more alarming: 34.7%.

Black and Hispanic households, those without a college degree, and families in Southern states experienced significantly higher rates of food insecurity.

As new tariffs threaten to push prices even higher, 92% of Americans say they’re concerned about food and consumer goods costs. These aren't just economic statistics—they’re daily realities for millions of families struggling to feed their children.