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<\/p>\n Email Link<\/p>\n New York \n President Donald Trump campaigned<\/a> on lowering grocery prices during the 2024 race and pledged that Americans are \u201cgoing to be affording their groceries very soon.\u201d But grocery prices have continued to tick higher after the election, and Americans are starting to change their shopping behavior as they grow more concerned about the economy.\n <\/p>\n \n More than half of Americans say they are stressed about food costs, according to poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research<\/a> released this week. Fifty-three percent of people said grocery costs were a \u201cmajor\u201d stress, while 33% said they were a \u201cminor\u201d stress, according to the poll. Only 14% said groceries were not a source of stress.\n <\/p>\n \n This was the first AP poll asking Americans about their stress over grocery prices, but other surveys<\/a> in recent years have shown that Americans are frustrated with grocery costs. The poll shows that Americans remain anxious over the high cost of food and the state of the economy, despite slowing inflation on groceries.\n <\/p>\n \n They\u2019re not just complaining to pollsters: Customers are making significant changes to what they buy at the grocery store and how they buy it.\n <\/p>\n \n The rate of inflation on groceries has come down significantly since a 9.4% peak in 2022, driven by supply chain bottlenecks. Grocery prices increased 2.4% for the last 12 months ending in June, according to the latest consumer price index <\/a>reading.\n <\/p>\n \n But that doesn\u2019t mean that grocery prices have come down. In some cases, such as eggs, beef, orange juice and other items, prices have even accelerated due to supply changes<\/a> or extreme weather<\/a>. There are signs that Trump\u2019s tariffs are impacting prices on imported fruits<\/a>, canned goods<\/a>, coffee <\/a>and other products.\n <\/p>\n \n The poll results reflect unmet expectations over Trump\u2019s pledges on grocery prices and consumer uncertainty around the direction of the economy, said David Ortega, a food economist at Michigan State University.\n <\/p>\n \n Consumers pay close attention to store prices and grocery bills shape their overall perceptions of the economy. \u201cWe\u2019re coming out of an inflationary period. People\u2019s budgets are strained. Everybody sees the price of food,\u201d Ortega said.\n <\/p>\n \n The broader economy appears to be impacting consumer sentiment around groceries. Consumer confidence has wobbled<\/a> in recent months over the Trump administration\u2019s trade policies. Recent reports on jobs and consumer spending also showed the economy may be more fragile than previously believed, and Trump\u2019s trade policy is playing a big part.\n <\/p>\n \n \u201cThis is an environment with tremendous uncertainty around prices because of administration\u2019s tariff and trade policy,\u201d Ortega said.\n <\/p>\n \n Since the beginning of the year, Americans have fretted over the possibility of higher inflation because of Trump\u2019s trade war. But inflation has remained somewhat tame<\/a>, with only a few categories seeing prices pick up. <\/strong>That\u2019s because some businesses have chosen to absorb higher costs, and many are still stocked up with inventory they front-loaded in the beginning of the year, economists say.\n <\/p>\n \n Economists say it may just be a matter of time until inflation accelerates faster as inventories dry up and businesses feel the sting from tariffs. American businesses imported significantly less in June as higher tariffs kicked in, making it more expensive for them to buy foreign-produced goods, the Census Bureau reported Tuesday.\n <\/p>\n \n Companies say consumers are strapped and adjusting their shopping patterns. They\u2019re buying smaller sizes, using coupons and skipping<\/a> discretionary items, purchasing only the essentials. They\u2019re also eating more meals at home.\n <\/p>\n \n Economists say these changes are a troubling sign and part of an economic slowdown that is impacting the job market<\/a> and companies\u2019 growth plans.\n <\/p>\n
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