This past year, the sun has been putting in a lot of overtime -- which has U.S. crops and farmers suffering horribly as a nationwide drought persists.
Many crops have been burned, including grains such as corn and wheat -- grains that are precursors to many foods such as sodas, cereals, baked goods, dairy products, chicken and beef.
Experts predict rising commodity prices will result in up to a 5% increase in food prices in 2013 -- and perhaps even into early 2014 -- leading to higher grocery bills and restaurant tabs for consumers.
What This Means to a Family of Four
The Department of Agriculture Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion estimates a moderate weekly grocery bill for a family of four with school-age children at roughly $236.60, which translates into an annual family budget of approximately $12,300 for food consumed at home.
Assuming the anticipated 5% increase in food prices next year, a family of four is looking at an additional $615 on their annual grocery bill in 2013.
For dining away from home, if we assume the average American family of four's typical weekly restaurant bill is $100, or $5,200 per year. That 5% increase will add $260 to a family's restaurant spending next year.
All told, the unrelenting national drought could add up to an extra $875 on food spending for an average family of four.
What are you doing to help keep your grocery bill down?
none! LOL
Quoting Skybabe:
For a family of 4 we spend about $100 a week on food thankyouverymuch. And $100 a WEEK on eating out? That's $400 a month just for meals ate at restaurants. What middle class family can spare that much a month?!
I will like to let the government that since food is going up and my husbands salary is not I will have to tell my family to eat only twice a day hows that?
On a serious note.. I was trying to make my family healthier meals but everything is so expensive, anyway I guess we are going to have to portion control, stop eating out (at all!) and keep using coupons and shoping sales :/
Do you have a smart phone or cable you can cut out? We don't have cable, only netflix and there is plenty to watch on there!
Quoting yvonne37:I will like to let the government that since food is going up and my husbands salary is not I will have to tell my family to eat only twice a day hows that?
On a serious note.. I was trying to make my family healthier meals but everything is so expensive, anyway I guess we are going to have to portion control, stop eating out (at all!) and keep using coupons and shoping sales :/
i'm surprised they say a family of 4 spends $236 a week.....what!? we probably dont even spend that much in a month
Kmart's new commercial - Big Gas Savings
- SweetLuci
on Feb. 3, 2013 at 9:42 PM