Food Insecurity

20% of Mississippians, 16% of Kentuckians, and 15% of Georgians reported their household went hungry in December.

Food insecurity, Dec 9-19, 2022

Percent of adults who report their household sometimes or often went hungry in last 7 days

Source: Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey.

In December 2022, 11% of Americans reported that their household did not have enough food. In the South, 13% of households sometimes or often went hungry. Food insecurity was most severe in Mississippi (20%), Kentucky (16%), Texas (15%), Georgia (15%), Louisiana (14%), and West Virginia (14%).

Several coinciding factors have made it difficult for Americans to have accessible and affordable food options. The annual cost of groceries increased by 12% as of December 2022, meaning a $100 weekly grocery bill from November 2021 would cost $112 in November 2022— a monthly increase of $48.¹ The USDA predicts that food prices will continue to grow at above average historical rates in 2023, though more slowly than in 2022.² While SNAP benefits for 2023 increased by 12.5% to adjust for the rising cost of living, the USDA announced that emergency SNAP benefits would end after the February 2023 allotment.^3,4 More and more Americans are turning to food banks for help, many of which struggle to keep up with the increased demand, operating on limited supplies and tight budgets.^5,6,7,8 As families continue to experience food insecurity, experts advise policymakers to consider its negative impacts on healthcare outcomes and spending (Medical Debt).^9,10

1. “Consumer Price Index Summary”. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. https://www.bls.gov/news.release/cpi.nr0.htm

2. “Food Price Outlook, 2022 and 2023”. U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/food-price-outlook/summary-findings/#:~:text=In%202022%2C%20all%20food%20prices,between%207.0%20and%208.0%20percent.

3. “SNAP – Fiscal Year 2023 Cost-of-Living Adjustments”. U.S. Department of Agriculture. August, 2022. https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/fy-2023-cola

4. “Changes to SNAP Benefit Amounts - 2023”. U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/changes-2023-benefit-amounts

5. “‘A worse crisis for us’: Prices up, donations down as food banks struggle to feed the needy”. Norman. Palm Beach Post. December, 2022. https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/local/2022/12/13/food-banks-cope-high-costs-fewer-donations-demand-help-rises/10790279002/

6. “3 actionable steps to help reduce food insecurity in Georgia”. Csukas. Atlanta Business Chronicle. January, 2023. https://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/news/2023/01/10/3-actionable-steps-to-help-reduce-food-insecurity.html

7. “Food banks are struggling this holiday season as inflation creates 'perfect storm'”. Thornton. USA Today. November, 2022. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/11/23/us-food-banks-pantries-struggle/10671432002/

8. “As higher costs hit Americans, it's hitting food banks, too”. Rinehart. WVXU. December, 2022. https://www.wvxu.org/local-news/2022-12-19/freestore-foodbank-food-distribution-event-inflation

9. “Families with food insecurity have greater health care expenditures”. Wright. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. January, 2023. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/975918

10. “Food Insecurity Was Associated With Greater Family Health Care Expenditures In The US, 2016–17”. Palakshappa, Garg, Peltz, Wong, Cholera, and Berkowitz. Health Affairs. January, 2023. https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2022.00414