NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – A new report from WalletHub finds that Louisiana and Mississippi are among the states where residents spend the highest percentage of their income on groceries.
For many shoppers, the rising cost of food is taking a toll.
“I spend $150 bucks a week just for me,” said Michael Beldon as he loaded groceries into his vehicle.
Others have also noticed a spike in prices.
“They seem a lot higher than they were a few months ago, that’s for sure,” said Abra Demmon.
Beldon, who lives on a fixed income, said inflation has forced him to make tough choices.
“Well, I’m on Social Security, and it’s killing me. Absolutely killing me. I don’t think I’ve had an egg in six months, so it’s nuts—really hurting,” he said.
How WalletHub Measured Grocery Costs
Chip Lupo, a WalletHub writer and analyst, explained the methodology behind the report.
“We analyzed the prices of 26 grocery items, and that includes meat, dairy, vegetables, fruits, frozen food, and cleaning products across all 50 states,” Lupo said. “We totaled the cost of these items and then compared them to the median monthly household income for each state.”
According to WalletHub’s findings, Mississippi ranks No. 1 among states where residents spend the highest percentage of their income on groceries, averaging 2.64%. Louisiana ranks No. 5, with residents spending an average of 2.39% of their income on food.
“We rank these states based on the percentage of income spent on groceries rather than absolute grocery prices,” Lupo said. “So, states with the highest grocery spending as a percentage of income tend to have lower median incomes—not necessarily higher grocery prices.”
He noted that Louisiana has a slightly higher median household income than Mississippi, which accounts for the difference in ranking.
“So that accounts for the difference between No. 1 and No. 5, but the prices are pretty comparable,” he said.
How Other States Compare
Some northern states fared better in the ranking.
“We’ve got New Jersey and Maryland that are more at the lowest end, and it’s the polar opposite at the top,” Lupo said. “Maryland and New Jersey are very high-income states. So theoretically, even if grocery prices are higher, they’re spending a lower percentage of their income because they have higher earnings.”
Ways to Save on Groceries
Lupo said there are ways shoppers can reduce their grocery bills.
“Take advantage of sales, enroll in store loyalty programs—you could get discounts that way. Buy store-brand items,” he said. “And if you have to use a credit card for your groceries, use the right card; get a card that’s going to offer you rewards on your groceries.”
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