I’m going to have to play the age card on this one (my age was in the single-digits when this study began!) but NPR.org has a new story up stating that Americans spend less on groceries in 2012 than they did in 1982. The study notes that Americans spent about 13% of their income on groceries, compared to 9% today.
There are several charts that accompany the story. This one adjusts 1982’s prices to account for the value of the dollar in 2012 dollars, then notes the prices of numerous items:
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Credit: Lam Thuy Vo / NPR
One factor that doesn’t appear to be noted in this story is the rise in people eating out at restaurants. The more meals you eat out, the less you’re effectively spending on groceries..! But it’s interesting nonetheless.
Check out the entire report: What America Spends On Groceries
Julieb says
Wow! To think that my Mom spend more than I spend now to feed our family…that’s a shocker! Oh…and these are also PRE-coupon prices too, right?
mickeyd says
I graduated from college in ’83, so I definitely wasn’t in single digits when this study started. There’s no way people are spending less on food now then they did in ’82. To the extent that people spend less on groceries I firmly believe that it’s because so many people don’t cook anymore but, rather, eat out so much more. I can’t believe the number of families that think eating out several times a week is normal, and cooking dinner a couple times a week is a tremendous accomplishment. So, yes, if you cook dinner once or twice a week you’ll spend less at the grocery store but how much are people spending on food?
cjmurray94 says
The average family size is also smaller now than in 1982
claritygolden says
But this chart shows prices on individual items, not overall grocery spending. So if you bought the same groceries today that you bought in 1982, you would be spending less on average. Restaurant spending would only factor into the total amount of a household budget spent on food, which is a different measure.
Charlie Q says
First off, the chart shows the 1982 prices in 2012 dollars which basically means that given the rate of inflation over the last 30 years that’s how much it “should” cost today.
Then the part that compares spending 13% of income on groceries in 1982 to only 9% of income in 2012.
Comparing apples to apples (with a twist LOL):
If you made minimum wage working 40 hours per week in 1982, you would have made just under $7000 ($6968) for the year and 13% of that would be about $900 ($905.84).
If you make minimum wage working only 32 hours per week in 2012, you will make just over $12,000 ($12,064) for the year and 9% of that would be almost $1100 ($1085.76).
So at just minimum wage working 20% less hours you would be paying more in 2012 than in 1982.