The average family in America spends roughly $270.21 at the grocery store per week, according to a study by HelpAdvisor that analyzed the U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey.
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Huh, I would think Alaska would be in the #1 slot. I've heard about the outrageous cost of goods there.
I don't know what I spend on groceries here. I never really kept track of it, if I need something I just buy it. I do know that it seems like every time I go into town for groceries, I'm dropping at least a hundred bucks.
I thought Alaska too then I remembered Hawaii.
ReplyDelete-WDS
Hawaii is brutal too. Been to both Hawaii and Alaska - Hawaii was significantly more. Especially dairy of any kind.
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the newly annexed state of South America since we're feeding 50% of them thanks to Biden.
ReplyDeleteWE'RE #1! WE'RE #1!
ReplyDeleteI dug out my last credit card statement and added up the charges for grocery delivery and the single trip to the store last month: Nearly $900 just for my wife and I, in Grand Rapids, MI, which is supposed to be the low cost area. Nearly 15% of that is tips for the Shipt shoppers, but groceries must be sky high. Now, I'm not worried about it yet. With the house and car paid for, our social security alone covers all the bills, with some money left over at the end of the year that I can add to my retirement investments.
ReplyDeleteBut it keeps growing, and someday that will be something to worry about...
So much for two less expensive than one.
DeleteThe last 4 months my food costs mean avg is $247/mo.
Of course, I cook a lot using raw grains and veggies. I rarely eat out. I don't eat as much beef as I would like. Add another $200 or so if I did.
Delivery? I think I've found the problem hahaha
DeleteWait, $900 bucks for two of you? You must eat a lot of Lobster and aged prime beef.
DeleteThere's four of us at home. Me, my wife and two daughters in their 20's. We spend $140 - $180 per week. We eat out maybe once a week.
We're in S.E. Pennsylvania BTW.
The article noted it listed states in cont. U S.That excludes the most recent two...
DeleteMake your own food.
ReplyDeleteInvest in that.
High grocery bills are for punks.
That's fine if you have the time, property and resources to raise your own food. Most of us don't.
DeleteI went to the full study, and it ommitted both Alaska and Hawaii, but added the Distirct of Columbia, as the left still wants to turn it into a state
ReplyDeleteAs for the highest states, I think some of them are the wealthiest states where many people don't mind paying more for supposedly better food, and some are the states with the largest average family size.
ReplyDeleteBut it is odd that Alaska and Hawaii don't lead the list. Is my picture of prices in Anchorage and Honolulu outdated? Or is it that a significant part of the population in these two states don't get all their food from a store? (Hunting and fishing are certainly not free, but I expect a study that concentrates on grocery store purchases would not count these costs.) I know that's true of nearly much everyone that lives outside a city in Alaska, but I was not thinking of them as enough people to balance out all those who never get far from Anchorage.
It was a study of the continental 48.
DeleteSpeaking of being #1, I got my latest PG&E bill last week. The 13% rate increase that was supposed to go into effect the first of the year turned out to be an 18% increase. The Tier 1 rate is now just over 44¢ per kWh.
ReplyDeleteBut with PG&E the fun never ends. They're currently asking for and will probably receive another 7.2% rate increase which will go into effect in March. That will put the lowest rate at over 50¢ per kWh. That's five times higher than a friend in Boise pays.
Move out of California. Here it is about 11 cents hahaha. Southeast.
DeleteIf you read through to the original study, their data doesn't include Alaska or Hawaii.
ReplyDeleteFor reference, I do track all my expenses and in the last 12 months I've averaged $460 / week on groceries + Costco (I only track my Costco card so some of that is non-food, but mostly food, or Jack Daniels).
I've heard it's actually more expensive in Hawaii.
Only if you eat like a tourist. That steak comes with the price of a boat ticket attached.
DeleteBut if you like fish and fresh fruits and vegetables, like the natives, it's not that bad.
Hawaii does have the highest SNAP payout per person ($385/month) with Alaska being second ($271/month), the rest of the States range from $157-$197. I'm sure there is plenty of fraud in the program but it is, at least in theory, based on food costs.
DeleteMy average is in the $250 a month range but I live alone and don't splurge on higher priced items.......
ReplyDeleteJD
"consumer price index for food at home increasing 1.7% year-over-year in November."
ReplyDeleteHorse poop. I'm single. My grocery bill has increased 20% since a year ago and more than doubled since Bribem was installed. I live in one of the less expensive states according to the full report.
Nemo
That list correlates with highest taxes. That's why CA is #1 and AK is not.
ReplyDeleteSaid another way, the high cost of shipping (AK, HI) is less than the high cost of taxation. Overwhelming but not a surprise.
Just wanted to comment that the results hinge heavily on how the study was designed. As other commenters mentioned, Alaska doesn't have high end retailers like Whole Foods. We also tend to use grocery co-ops like Azure Standard (this is available to most people who are willing to take the time and figure out their nearest drop point, or create a drop point). Costco, absolutely makes a difference, as does growing your own or buying from farmers markets, and preserving in the summer and fall.
ReplyDeleteAlaska, and to a greater degree Hawaii, are at the end of the supply chain for everything. I didn't know other people bought items by the item, instead of by weight, until I was a teen.
I keep a price book of things we use, calculated to price per weight. I'll be updating it soon to see what has changed in the last year.
California being the most expensive shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. And Texas is home to the fattest city in the world, so that's not really a shocker either.
ReplyDeleteI just got back from the Social Services office, applying for CalFresh. They help with fresh food. I don't know by how much yet, but my monthly grocery budget is past the point where eating less can keep it in bounds... and THAT is while keeping it down to ABSOLUTELY no frills.
ReplyDeleteThat program allows potato chips, candy, and a bunch of stuff which no reasonable person would think are nutritous. Even coffee and artisan foods are allowed.
DeleteThe only restriction is no prepared foods such as prepared by a deli.
$100 - $150 is what I aim for when going to the money furnace.
ReplyDelete-arc
Farce. I can't believe Maine wasn't even on the list. We can buy booze in the supermarket. End of discussion.
ReplyDelete- Deb