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States Where Groceries Eat Your Paycheck
12 Feb
Summary
- Mississippi leads states in grocery spending as a share of income.
- Low median incomes, not high prices, drive this financial burden.
- Arkansas and West Virginia also face significant grocery budget strains.
A recent analysis reveals that Mississippi residents dedicate the largest percentage of their income to grocery expenses, consuming 2.6 percent of the state's median pay. This occurs despite Mississippi having some of the nation's lowest grocery prices. The primary factor driving this high expenditure share is the state's lowest median household income in the U.S.
West Virginia and Arkansas follow closely, with grocery spending making up over 2.5 percent and around 2.4 percent of their respective median incomes. Similar to Mississippi, these states also rank among the lowest for median household income nationally. While some specific grocery items may be pricier in these areas, limited wages are the main reason these food costs represent a larger portion of household budgets.
In contrast, households in New Jersey and Massachusetts report spending only about 1.5 percent of their income on groceries, the lowest percentage nationwide. This indicates a more favorable economic balance where earnings allow for a smaller proportion of income to be allocated to food purchases, even if prices are higher.
