Low-income Americans and food banks are struggling to make rising food prices work
![Grocery store.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kwY9NjX5eHJ6DSvck3fmN4-415-80.jpg)
As food prices continue to rise (thanks to supply chain knots, labor shortages, and inflation), lower-income Americans — who tend to spend a higher percentage of their earnings on food and housing — as well as food banks and pantries are struggling to keep up, reports The New York Times.
Indianapolis resident Robin Mueller said she used to buy ground beef for her family once or twice a week; now, she can only afford "once or twice a month," writes the Times. "You have to pick and choose," Mueller said.
A once-$13 to $14 case of peanut butter now costs $16 to $19, and green beans that used to go for $9 a case are up to $14 per, added Alexandra McMahon, director of Gleaners Food Bank of Indianapolis. "It has a big impact," explained Gleaners' COO Joseph Slater of the surge.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Among the items going up in price are meat, fruit, dairy products, grains and oils, per the Times. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the price of meat, poultry, fish, and eggs in U.S. cities are up 15 percent since the start of 2020. It's a "slow-motion train wreck" that isn't going away any time soon, cautioned Michael Swanson, chief agricultural economist at Wells Fargo.
Meanwhile, though pandemic-linked demand for some food banks and pantries has let up recently, "things are nowhere near pre-COVID conditions," notes the Times. And an increase in food cost makes those operations even harder. "There are certain items that are outside our reach because of the price," said CEO of the Oregon Food Bank Susannah Morgan.
Warned Swanson: "The scary thing is that food companies haven't passed along all of their costs yet."
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Big Tech's answer for AI-driven job loss: universal basic income
In The Spotlight A new study reveals the strengths and limitations
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'I will not be silent' on Gaza, says Kamala Harris
Speed Read In a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Harris supported Israel's right to defend itself while expressing a desire to end Palestinian suffering
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
'How long can TikTok dominate as a social network?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Empty-nest boomers aren't selling their big homes
Speed Read Most Americans 60 and older do not intend to move, according to a recent survey
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Brazil accuses Musk of 'disinformation campaign'
Speed Read A Brazilian Supreme Court judge has opened an inquiry into Elon Musk and X
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bid
Speed Read Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Disney and DeSantis reach detente
Speed Read The Florida governor and Disney settle a yearslong litigation over control of the tourism district
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Visa and Mastercard agree to lower swipe fees
Speed Read The companies will cap the fees they charge businesses when customers use their credit cards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Reddit IPO values social media site at $6.4 billion
Speed Read The company makes its public debut on the New York Stock Exchange
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Housing costs: the root of US economic malaise?
speed read Many voters are troubled by the housing affordability crisis
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Feds cap credit card late fees at $8
speed read The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finalized a rule to save households an estimated $10 billion a year
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published