By Merrilee Gasser, The Center Square
In Summary:
Rising grocery prices are forcing many Florida families to make difficult financial choices, with nearly half of those surveyed saying food costs have increased their debt over the past year. The financial strain is especially evident among households with children, where many parents report skipping meals, eating less, or relying on buy-now-pay-later services to afford groceries. While egg prices are expected to decline this year, federal forecasts show many other food categories—including fresh vegetables, fruit, sweets, and beverages—will continue to become more expensive.
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Rising food costs are pushing Floridians into debt, new poll results show.
Nearly 50% of respondents said their debt has increased in the past year due to food costs, according to a poll conducted by Aspect Strategic on behalf of No Kid Hungry Florida.
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Eighty-two percent of respondents said the cost of food is rising faster than their income, and 70% said their financial situation has worsened in the past 12 months due to food costs.
Food costs are hitting families hard, as nearly half of respondents with a child in their household said they have either skipped meals or eaten less, and 39% said they have used “buy now, pay later” plans to pay for food.
The situation is not expected to improve. Food prices are predicted to increase by another 3.4% this year, the United States Department of Agriculture reported. It predicts that food at home prices will increase by 3.2% and food away from home prices by 3.5%.
The price of food jumped by almost 10% in 2022, faster than any year since 1979, according to the USDA. While food price growth slowed in 2023, it continued to rise, with food at home up by another 5% and food away from home by over 7%.
Before 2022, the price of food at home increased by an average of 2.6% a year for decades.
This year, buyers are expected to see the price of many common food categories at home grow faster than their 20-year historical average rate of growth, including beef, fresh fruits and vegetables, sugar and sweets, and other foods.
Shoppers could get a bit of relief on egg and dairy prices, as they are predicted to decline this year compared to 2025, the USDA said. The price of eggs fell by 1.7% between March and April this year and was almost 40% lower in April than they were in April 2025. In total, egg prices are expected to fall by almost 30% in 2026.
But elsewhere, shoppers’ wallets are taking a hit. Overall, prices for fresh vegetables are predicted to increase by 7.8% in 2026, fresh fruit is expected to go up in price by 1.8%, sugar and sweets are predicted to increase by 6.3%, and prices for nonalcoholic beverages are expected to go up by 5.8% this year, according to the USDA.
Key Points:
- Nearly 50% of Floridians surveyed said food costs increased their debt over the past year.
- 82% of respondents said food prices are rising faster than their incomes.
- Almost half of households with children reported skipping meals or eating less because of food costs.
- Thirty-nine percent of parents surveyed said they have used buy-now-pay-later services to purchase food.
- USDA projections show food prices continuing to rise this year, with fresh vegetables, fruits, sweets, and beverages expected to see additional increases.
