More than half of Americans are stressed about buying groceries — significantly more than the financial pressure they feel about credit card debt, child care or student debt, an AP-NORC poll out Monday found.
Key Poll Findings
| Financial Pressure | % Who Say It’s a Major Source of Stress |
|---|---|
| The cost of groceries | 53% |
| The cost of housing | 47% |
| The amount of money you have saved | 43% |
| The amount you get paid | 43% |
| The cost of health care | 42% |
| Credit card debt | 29% |
| The cost of child care | 18% |
| Student debt | 18% |
Teacher Charged in Arkansas Stabbings Once Concerned Parents With ‘Grooming’ Behavior
The Big Picture
President Trump campaigned on a promise to bring down grocery prices, but the data shows Americans are still stressed out about affording these basic necessities.
- 53% of Americans said the cost of groceries was a major source of stress right now.
- 33% said it was a minor source of stress.
- Just 14% said the price of groceries was not a source of stress.
The next-highest sources of major stress were:
- The cost of housing (47%)
- The amount of money saved or earned (43%)
- The cost of health care (42%)
The Intrigue
14% of adults in the poll also reported using Buy Now, Pay Later services on groceries, so they could make the immediate purchases and pay for them in installments.
- 11% said they had used such services, like Afterpay or Klarna, to purchase restaurant meals or meal delivery.
- 17% said they had used BNPL services for medical or dental care.
- 14% had used it for entertainment costs.
Between the Lines
Food banks have braced for a surge in need triggered by federal food assistance changes signed into law by Trump, with leaders in the hunger relief network warning the gap may be impossible to fill.
Context
In June, food prices were up 3% compared to the prior year, according to a Consumer Price Index report released last month.
The price of food has soared in recent years compared to pre-pandemic data. Driving factors have included:
- Supply chain disruptions
- The Russian invasion of Ukraine
- The avian influenza outbreak
(Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Climate change has also contributed to decreased predictability in food costs, Axios’ Josephine Walker reports.
What They’re Saying
Like his first term, “President Trump is implementing the very same policy mix of deregulation, fairer trade, and pro-growth tax cuts at an even bigger scale – as these policies take effect, the best is yet to come,” White House spokesperson Kush Desai said in a statement.
