Surprisingly, Americans spend less on food than the majority of their alternatives in developed nations. Though less is spent all around, more is being used on unhealthy foods and sweets than on more wholesome fare.
Food spending compared to other nations
In contrast to other developed countries, Individuals spend less cash on food yearly. Still, the average American income is $50,000 per year, and that is not quite enough money to look after a typical family of four with pets.
In contrast to other countries, the U.S. is not looking too bad since the typical British family spends 9 percent of the yearly outlay on food and the typical French family will spend 14 percent. Mother Jones points out that Individuals only spent six percent of the $32,051 annual outlay for 2009. That adds up to $6,372 total on food for the year: $3,753 for food in the home and $2,619 for food from the home.
The cost of food in America decreasing for the past 30 years is the most important reason, according to the NPR article.
Maybe Michelle has a point
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that now, about 8 percent of annual outlays is spent on food. That is much better than the 13 percent we saw in the average household in 1982 though.
During that time, the cost of most food groups has dropped; in some cases considerably. For instance, the cost of steak has dropped 30 percent, from $7 per pound in 1982 to $4.90 per pound in 2012. No meats have gone up in price. Only one fruit and one vegetable increased in price in that time, those being grapefruit and bell peppers, the costs of which increased by 6.5 percent and 34 percent, respectively.
What some may view as troublesome is how much is used on what type of food. Meats dropped from 31.3 percent of food expenditures in 1982 to 21.5 percent of expenditures in 2012. Fruits and vegetables stayed broadly the same at 14.5 percent in 1982 and 14.6 percent in 2012. However, processed foods and sweets doubled from 11.6 percent in 1982 to 22.9 percent in 2012. The First Lady may be criticized for advocating feeding children more fruits and vegetables, but she might be on to something.
All thanks to the government
Mother Jones explained that the agriculture subsidies have helped produce more food making prices go down. In fact, the amount of corn produced produced from 1995 to 2010 in America increased from 4 billion bushels a year to 12 billion bushels. In that same time frame, $261.9 billion in subsidies have been given out.
Grain prices and meat costs have increased a lot lately though. In 2011, the price of grain doubled and the price of meat increased 8 percent.
Having low prices does not help the farmer, according to the Daily Green. About 15.8 percent of the cost of an item sold will go back to the entity that produced it, according to the Department of Agriculture, which is why subsidies are needed.
Food spending compared to other nations
In contrast to other developed countries, Individuals spend less cash on food yearly. Still, the average American income is $50,000 per year, and that is not quite enough money to look after a typical family of four with pets.
In contrast to other countries, the U.S. is not looking too bad since the typical British family spends 9 percent of the yearly outlay on food and the typical French family will spend 14 percent. Mother Jones points out that Individuals only spent six percent of the $32,051 annual outlay for 2009. That adds up to $6,372 total on food for the year: $3,753 for food in the home and $2,619 for food from the home.
The cost of food in America decreasing for the past 30 years is the most important reason, according to the NPR article.
Maybe Michelle has a point
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that now, about 8 percent of annual outlays is spent on food. That is much better than the 13 percent we saw in the average household in 1982 though.
During that time, the cost of most food groups has dropped; in some cases considerably. For instance, the cost of steak has dropped 30 percent, from $7 per pound in 1982 to $4.90 per pound in 2012. No meats have gone up in price. Only one fruit and one vegetable increased in price in that time, those being grapefruit and bell peppers, the costs of which increased by 6.5 percent and 34 percent, respectively.
What some may view as troublesome is how much is used on what type of food. Meats dropped from 31.3 percent of food expenditures in 1982 to 21.5 percent of expenditures in 2012. Fruits and vegetables stayed broadly the same at 14.5 percent in 1982 and 14.6 percent in 2012. However, processed foods and sweets doubled from 11.6 percent in 1982 to 22.9 percent in 2012. The First Lady may be criticized for advocating feeding children more fruits and vegetables, but she might be on to something.
All thanks to the government
Mother Jones explained that the agriculture subsidies have helped produce more food making prices go down. In fact, the amount of corn produced produced from 1995 to 2010 in America increased from 4 billion bushels a year to 12 billion bushels. In that same time frame, $261.9 billion in subsidies have been given out.
Grain prices and meat costs have increased a lot lately though. In 2011, the price of grain doubled and the price of meat increased 8 percent.
Having low prices does not help the farmer, according to the Daily Green. About 15.8 percent of the cost of an item sold will go back to the entity that produced it, according to the Department of Agriculture, which is why subsidies are needed.
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