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Families Struggle to Afford Food, Survey Finds
The New York Times ^ | January 26, 2010 | Jason DeParle

Posted on 01/27/2010 1:45:25 PM PST by Cheap_Hessian

WASHINGTON — Nearly one in five Americans said they lacked the money to buy the food they needed at some point in the last year, according to a survey co-sponsored by the Gallup organization and released Tuesday by an anti-hunger group.

The numbers soared at the start of the recession, but dipped in 2009 despite the continuing rise in unemployment. The anti-hunger group, the Food Research and Action Center, attributed that trend to falling food prices, an increasing use of food stamps and a rise in the amount of the food stamps benefit.

More than 38 million Americans — one in eight — now receive food stamps, a record high.

The unusually large survey, which covered more than a half-million people, offers the most recent snapshot of hunger-related problems. And it is the first survey big enough to provide data on each of the nation’s 435 Congressional districts and Washington, D.C.

Indeed, its most interesting finding may be just how broad a problem food affordability has become. In 45 states and 311 Congressional districts, 15 percent or more of those surveyed said they had recently lacked money to buy enough food.

“While there is certainly more hardship in some areas than in others, the data also show that this is a nearly universal problem,” said James D. Weill, the hunger group’s president.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bhoeconomy; economy; foodprices; foodstamps; fourth100days; poverty; recession; thecomingdepression
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1 posted on 01/27/2010 1:45:26 PM PST by Cheap_Hessian
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To: Cheap_Hessian

But they had no trouble paying their cell phone bills, cable TV, and getting their hair and nails done, many of them.


2 posted on 01/27/2010 1:46:26 PM PST by NEMDF
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To: Cheap_Hessian

Food’s cheaper in Mexico.


3 posted on 01/27/2010 1:48:41 PM PST by Da Coyote
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To: Cheap_Hessian

Not to worry, it still tastes the same.


4 posted on 01/27/2010 1:49:46 PM PST by dfwgator
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To: Cheap_Hessian
Yeah, how many people in this country starve to death?

Struggling In Ohio As The Economy Tightens

The rising cost of food means their money gets them about a third fewer bags of groceries — $100 used to buy about 12 bags of groceries, but now it's more like seven or eight. So they cut back on expensive items like meat, and they don't buy extras like ice cream anymore.

5 posted on 01/27/2010 1:52:08 PM PST by the_devils_advocate_666
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To: NEMDF

You forgot to add:

Tattoos, cigarettes, Ipods, Starbucks, People magazine, tanning parlor and UGG boots.


6 posted on 01/27/2010 1:52:58 PM PST by NoKoolAidforMe (1-20-09--The Beginning of an Error..............1-20-13--Change we can look forward to)
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To: Cheap_Hessian

So, I guess most people in this country are losing weight these days? Give me a break. When you’re out of work, you’re depressed; when you’re depressed, you overeat; when you overeat, you gain weight. Many people are having a hard time right now, but we all find a way to buy food.


7 posted on 01/27/2010 1:53:30 PM PST by utahagen
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To: the_devils_advocate_666
So they cut back on expensive items like meat, and they don't buy extras like ice cream anymore.

But they still budget for their lard sandwiches and their nightly toddy of warm corn oil with a dusting of cinnamon.
8 posted on 01/27/2010 1:55:03 PM PST by aruanan
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To: Cheap_Hessian

Brain trusts that write propaganda like this NEVER understand or explain that these surveys count ‘I couldn’t make it to the ATM so I missed getting that Whopper on my break’ the same as ‘didn’t have enough money to afford food at least once in the past year.’


9 posted on 01/27/2010 1:57:28 PM PST by dk88 (Keep your laws off my body)
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To: the_devils_advocate_666

Hmm, looks like someone needs to start saving for a bra.


10 posted on 01/27/2010 2:01:07 PM PST by workerbee (Yes, I hate Obama because of his color: RED!)
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To: Cheap_Hessian

I lost my job yesterday, but we will not starve as long as I can buy cheap meats and vegetables. I know how to cook and use every last bit of a protein or vegetable. We also will be gardening again this year and summer in the South will be here early.

Planting an Obama garden and making my own bread(line).


11 posted on 01/27/2010 2:02:11 PM PST by doodad
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To: Cheap_Hessian

This crap about prohibitively expensive food and people goind hungry in this country is as bad as the global warming hoax. Go park outside the exit of any WalMart or Dollar General for an hour, note all of the thin and starving folks you see, and get back to me about all of the people that are going hungry in this country.


12 posted on 01/27/2010 2:02:52 PM PST by JustaDumbBlonde (Do not wish doom on your enemy. Plan it.)
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To: Cheap_Hessian

Balderdash...... he who can’t afford food is spending too much in smokes


13 posted on 01/27/2010 2:03:17 PM PST by bert (K.E. N.P. +12 . Tax the poor. Taxes will give them a stake in society)
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To: Cheap_Hessian

We’ve all heard the term “ugly American.” It’s stuff like this that really does deserve that title. My GAWD... so many people in this world actually count themselves lucky to get a bowl of rice or clean water every day, and we bemoan our “hunger problems”. It’s so SICK.


14 posted on 01/27/2010 2:03:50 PM PST by workerbee (Yes, I hate Obama because of his color: RED!)
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To: Cheap_Hessian

Complete BS.

There are few if any people in this country that cannot afford basic food stuffs.


15 posted on 01/27/2010 2:05:50 PM PST by trumandogz (The Democrats are driving us to Socialism at 100 MPH -The GOP is driving us to Socialism at 97.5 MPH)
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To: bert

Cable TV. These slackers and fat a*ses can all afford cable.


16 posted on 01/27/2010 2:05:51 PM PST by Frantzie (TV - sending Americans towards Islamic serfdom - Cancel TV service NOW)
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To: JustaDumbBlonde
Families Struggle to Afford Food, Survey Finds

After the Nikes, the iPods, DVDs and CDs, the cable TV, high speed internet, and video games, there's not a whole lot left over for food.
17 posted on 01/27/2010 2:06:47 PM PST by aruanan
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To: NEMDF

I see lots of obesity walking around with cell phones and long nails and lots of tatoo’s....


18 posted on 01/27/2010 2:07:01 PM PST by geege
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To: Cheap_Hessian

I know very few people on food stamps and I know a lot of people who are struggling right now, including the ability to buy groceries. Most are self-employed small business owners who have closed their doors or have almost no business but are hanging on by a thread. I put a large garden in last year for exactly this reason last year. The obese freeloaders who eat like pigs and still have the luxury items and big screen TV aren’t in my world. Most people I see are eliminating any excess expenses and just trying to hang on until the economy recovers, if it ever does.


19 posted on 01/27/2010 2:07:28 PM PST by MTMS
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To: Cheap_Hessian

Thery probably squander too much money on things that they don’t really need.


20 posted on 01/27/2010 2:08:56 PM PST by Cacique (quos Deus vult perdere, prius dementat ( Islamia Delenda Est ))
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