Higher grocery prices hit shelves

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — More Americans are dealing with higher grocery store prices by planning to produce their own food, according to Purdue’s March Consumer Food Insights Report.

Forty-four percent of respondents said they plan to grow some of their own food. About 82% of that group said they are going to grow their own fruits and vegetables.

Amid high egg prices, 33% of consumers said they are going to keep hens in their backyards to produce their own eggs.

“In our March survey, 84% of consumers tell us that food prices are high,” said Joe Balagtas, professor of agricultural economics at Purdue.

“One in five households tell us they’ve had difficulty paying for food in the last 30 days. One in four households, 27%, tell us they borrowed money over the past year in order to pay for their food. That tells us food price, food affordability, is an issue for some consumers.”

How Are Consumers Coping?

While some plan to plant their own gardens, others plan to shop around to find the best deals. Thirty percent of households are searching for discounts.

“Another popular coping mechanism is trading down, choosing a cheaper variety or choosing a less expensive brand,” Balagtas said. “Twenty-six percent of households tell us that they’re trading down in that manner.”

View the complete report at https://tinyurl.com/Consumer-Food-Insights.