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US cities where people spend the most and the least on groceries
USA Today • • business
Key Points:
- Despite a slight 0.1% decrease in monthly food prices in September, grocery costs remain 1.8% higher than a year ago, continuing to strain shoppers' budgets.
- A WalletHub study found that Detroit, Cleveland, and Birmingham, Alabama, are the cities where residents spend the largest share of their income on groceries, largely due to lower household incomes rather than higher grocery prices.
- California cities such as Fremont, San Jose, and San Francisco have the lowest grocery spending burdens, with Fremont residents spending less than 1% of their median monthly income on groceries.
- Some cities experienced significant changes in grocery cost burdens, with Baton Rouge rising notably in rank due to increased grocery expenses, while New York City and Honolulu saw declines in grocery spending as a share of income.
- Price changes in specific grocery items varied in September, with milk and beef prices falling, while carbonated drinks, fruits, vegetables, cereals, and bakery products saw price increases.
