Americans are changing their grocery shopping routines due to the biggest jump in prices in 50 years. The cost of buying food to eat at home has increased by 33% in U.S. cities since the beginning of 2019, according to government figures.

Causes of Price Increase

The coronavirus pandemic, droughts, hurricanes, and diseases like bird flu have driven down production, while tariffs have raised prices on foreign products. Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine has disrupted oil and fertilizer supplies, further contributing to the price increase.

For example, the price of a pound of ground beef has reached $6.82, which is 79% more than at the beginning of 2019. This has led to a decrease in demand for ground beef, with many Americans opting for cheaper alternatives like chicken and cold cuts.

Impact on Families

Families are feeling the pinch, with many having to adjust their shopping habits to make ends meet. Apral Jack, a 50-year-old from Lexington, Massachusetts, now scouts for deals and coupons before buying groceries. She has also started buying fewer canned goods and has switched to cheaper alternatives like Walmart’s Great Value range.

Ada Torres, a 60-year-old from Cleveland, Texas, has had to make similar adjustments. With five mouths to feed, she can no longer afford to buy ground beef and has had to rely on cheaper alternatives like chicken and cold cuts. Her family has also had to cut back on non-essential items like takeout coffee.

According to Jared Bernstein, a senior policy fellow at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy, Americans have a well-honed sense of food prices and are feeling stressed and aggrieved by the rapid increase. While wages have gone up slightly, they have not kept pace with the rise in food prices, leaving many families struggling to make ends meet.

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.