Food pantry staffers say inflation, higher prices bringing more people through their doors
Grocery prices increased an average of nearly 11% over the last year
Two years ago, at the beginning of the pandemic, we saw some empty shelves in grocery stores. Now, shelves are full, but prices are higher and some people say if this is the "new normal" for food costs, they can't keep up.
HOUSTON – Two years ago, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, grocery shoppers were emptying many of the shelves. Now, shelves are generally full, but prices are higher, and some Americans say if this is the "new normal" for food costs, they can't keep up.
Debra Jones is one of about 1,000 shoppers coming to a Feeding America Catholic Charities food pantry daily.
"If it wasn’t for the Catholic Charities and the community, for people to come here, and the community and us seniors, I don’t know where we would go," Jones said.
She is also raising a special needs grandson, and she said the pandemic has made things harder.
"You just have to buy certain foods because meats are terrible. They’re so expensive. Everything has gone up, and you just have to deal with what you have," Jones added.
Grocery prices have increased an average of nearly 11% over last year. (FOX Business / Fox News)
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, grocery prices increased an average of nearly 11% over last year.
Shayne Baker, a Fort Bend County Catholic Charities coordinator, pointed out how this increase has affected Americans daily.
"As food prices increase, it’s going to be harder for families to meet their needs at the grocery store," Baker said.
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Baker added February typically has been their slowest month of the year, but higher prices have changed that. "This particular year, the need has actually increased throughout the months of January and February, so we’re at very high levels, almost like Christmas and holiday levels."
The Houston Food Bank is the country's largest branch of Feeding America. Its president, Brian Greene, said food donations from the government, farmers and the public have helped them meet demand.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. grocery prices increased an average of nearly 11% over last year. (FOX Business / Fox News)
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"It could be that the product wasn’t pretty enough, or they made too much of it, and that’s where we step in," Greene said.
He added that he didn’t see the demand decreasing anytime soon, noting that inflation has hit more than food prices.
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"These families are struggling to pay their rent, and their fuel costs and their utilities," Greene pointed out.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics also reported that the price of food for restaurants and deliveries increased by just over 6% in the last year, for U.S. cities, in comparison to the 11% increase of groceries. So, consumers may be saving money by eating out.