Americans work to adapt to largest food-price hike in decades

Many Americans are changing their eating and shopping habits after the biggest jump in grocery prices in 50 years. According to government figures, the price of food purchased for home use rose 31% from 2019 through 2025. The war in Iran has made it uncertain if a slowdown expected this year will materialize. Some say they are hunting for deals at multiple stores and switching brands. Others are buying fewer of their favorite foods or less food overall. One reason consumers feel so pinched is that other costs have climbed rapidly, too, most recently for gasoline. Like a lot of San Francisco Bay Area residents, Jack Chang has felt surrounded by rising costs. The 33-year-old self-employed barber and father of three isn't just talking about grocery prices and gas. The landlord of his Mission District barbershop raised his rent by 10% this year. Meanwhile, Chang has lost clients who got laid off from their tech jobs. His home utility bill also remains high. With 6- and 4-year-old daughters and a 2-year-old son, he purchased a used 2024 Toyota Sienna hybrid minivan three months ago. So, he now has monthly car and auto insurance payments. It feels like cutting hair five to six days a week just isn't enough at times. Chang wants to spoil his kids. “But I just can't,” he said. “We have to live frugal, because it's hard to afford.” The reasons for the grocery price hikes are numerous, from pandemic-related supply chain disruptions, weather conditions, and diseases like bird flu to tariffs on foreign products like coffee, tomatoes, and chocolate. Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine disrupted oil and fertilizer supplies, making food more expensive to produce. A fresh conflict in the Middle East is creating similar price pressures this year. This article was provided by The Associated Press.