Posted on 08/06/2012 9:18:57 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Americans report spending $151 on food per week on average. One in 10 Americans say they spend $300 or more per week and, at the other extreme, 8% spend less than $50.
Gallup has asked a version of this question as far back as 1943, but has not asked it since 1987. In 1943, an average of $15 per week was spent on food. The final 1987 estimate was $106.
But the increases in weekly food spending over time largely reflect the impact of inflation. On a relative basis, after adjusting prior years' data for inflation to 2012 dollars, Americans are spending less on food now than in the past. The average $151 Americans report spending each week on food today is down from inflation-adjusted $157 to $214 range Gallup found throughout the mid- to late 1980s, the last time it regularly asked the question.
Adjusting the historical data to 2012 dollars also reveals that Americans' weekly spending on food began to decline in the 1970s, after rising to a high of $234 in 1966 and 1967. That generally downward trend was interrupted by a spike in 1987.
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey -- available from 1984 to 2010 -- confirm the generally downward trend Gallup finds in weekly reported average spending on food since the late 1980s. The BLS figures, adjusted for inflation, show Americans' spending on food declined to $124 a week in 2010, from a high of $148 in 1989.
Young adults' average weekly food spending is $173, more than what older Americans say they spend. Those with incomes of $75,000 or more per year are averaging $180 per week, compared with $144 for those with incomes of $30,000 to $74,999, and $127 for the lowest income group.
(Excerpt) Read more at gallup.com ...
Doesn’t mean much if they don’t say how big the family is. Or are we supposed to go to the link?
The prime question that should be asked here is what percentage of responders are on SNAP, SCHIP, WICs, EBT, Section 8, EITC, TANF, etc.
Damn, it is getting harder and harder to shop for food, even with coupons!
Exactly. Also is the figure adjusted for inflation and if so, is it adjusted only for food inflation or inflation total over the years? Averages are also notoriously skewed. I would be far more interested in the mean. This is just a classic example of lying with statistics and is almost meaningless without further explanation of the underlying data.
My favorite example of the great statistical lie is to “prove” that human are becoming immortal. You see, it must be the case that we are becoming immortal because after about 150,000 years as a species, around 80% of all human beings that have ever lived are still alive.
We spend $320 a month for two people. We don’t HAVE $150 a week to spend.
Absolutely worthless poll with number of persons left out. The idea that this 100 lb senior spends $100 a week on groceries is ridiculous.
On a positive note, the local squirrel population is falling slightly.
/johnny
I would think most Americans couldn’t respond accurately. If you do your weekly shopping at Waldbaum’s, Publix, etc you’re also buying toothpaste, toilet paper,soap,garbage bags , foil etc. I don’t sit down and separate what food I bought from what dry goods etc I bought.Unless a family does all their food shopping in one place and the rest in another, say Costco or a $.99 Store, this survey is pretty much worthless.IMO
Yes, I was thinking they should ask them, “..how much of YOUR OWN MONEY THAT SOMEONE IN YOUR HOUSEHOLD EARNED did you spend on food..?”
Gotta say it ...
when I go to Kroger or Publix, the VAST PREPONDERANCE of people sidling up to the deli counter to buy high-end Boars’ Head meats and fancy cheeses are :
Wide loads
Painted nails
Fancy hair-do’s
Females with multiple children
Outside the majority demographic
OFTEN Parked in handicapped slot
Newer car then me ...
Drives the average up.
/harrumph
Gallup has that data, the specific questions asked, etc. at the link in a downloadable Acrobat PDF.
I wonder how much of the increase is from putting ethanol in gasoline?
Thank God for taco trucks.
You know who’s buying what at the deli, what they drive and where they park? You sound like a stalker.
You are so right. When I was taken shopping by my grandmother in the 50s, grocery stores had grocery products, meat, produce, cleaning liquids/powders and laundry products. Today, "grocery" stores such as Giant, Food Lion or Safeway have pharmacies, over-the-counter drugstore items, clothing, toys, floral arrangements, books and newstand items, cooked foods, lottery tickets, stamps, lawn care items, hardware, auto care items, dorm furniture, gifts, candy, pet supplies, office supplies, a fish market and enough to furnish a 1950s ice cream parlor and soda shop.
No. I do 90% of the home grocery shopping. I am there a lot.
Curiosity + observation -> perspective.
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