If SNAP food aid is cut off, small grocery stores also will feel the pain

NPR ^ | 10/31/25 | Tavia Smith

[DallasBiff]

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Store manager Jose Pajares says he's slashing prices and stocking less food since business has slowed down at the Save A Lot in Springfield, Mass. The bulk of their customers depend on SNAP benefits, and the store depends on their business. A lapse in funding would hurt everyone.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Theresa Rios came to the grocery store this week with a shorter shopping list than usual. And she's also paying even more attention than usual to price.

Walking past a shelf of items labeled "Real Bacon Bits" next to packages of imitation bacon bits, Rios doesn't hesitate. "This is $2.19 and this is $1.59," she says, "so I'm going to buy this."

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat
KEYWORDS: fakenews; foodstamps; npr; snap; welfare

[The Antiyuppie]

“This is $2.19 and this is $1.59,” she says, “so I’m going to buy this.”

Holy crap. I’’d been an adult for almost 50 years before this lightbulb went off! What a revelation!

[ebshumidors]

Everything has a price per ounce/unit on the sticker on the shelf at Kroger.

[goo goo g'joob]

Walking past a shelf of items labeled "Real Bacon Bits" next to packages of imitation bacon bits, Rios doesn't hesitate. "This is $2.19 and this is $1.59," she says, "so I'm going to buy this."

NPR could have interviewed me 40 years ago for this same strategy. Or any and every grocery store trip since...

[frank ballenger]

I know. At that time it wasn’t true.

[Fledermaus]

Blah blah blah blah

[sappy]

MA PUC is showing this message on their website:

“President Trump has frozen SNAP benefits for November 1. All residents who receive SNAP benefits will be impacted.
On 10/31 a judge ruled that the Trump Administration must issue November SNAP benefits. This does not immediately restore benefits. For help finding food, or if you’re a resident, farmer or retailer who wants to help, click here. Oct. 30, 2025, 11:37 am”