Individuals spend less on groceries than other developed countries. Unfortunately, we also spend more on junk food than fruits and vegetables.
Good news for country
In contrast to other developed nations, Americans spend less money on food every year. 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.
According to Mother Jones, out of the $32,051 in yearly outlays from the average home in 2009, 6 percent was for food. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical household spent $6,372 on food that year. Of that, $3,753 was food for the home and $2,619 was away from home. However, the typical British family spent 9 percent of their income on food that year; the French spent 14 percent.
An NPR article points out the reason behind this. It said that during the last 30 years, American food costs have been dropping.
Michelle Obama advocating better food
Recent Agency of Labor Statistics data indicates yearly household expenditures on food have ticked up to around 8 percent of yearly outlays. However, that is drastically less than the typical household in 1982, when food spending was closer to 13 percent.
During that time, only one fruit and vegetable increased in price, and this contains grapefruit with a 6.5 percent increase and bell peppers with a 34 percent increase. No meats have gone up in price. In fact, the cost of steak has dropped 30 percent from 1982 going from $7 a pound to $4.90 a pound on average. All around, food prices have decreased a ton.
Michelle Obama's complaints about child food health are totally justified whenever you consider the percentage of what people used on different foods. From 1982 to 2012, there were many changes in the amount spent on food. For instance, Fruits and vegetables went from 14.5 percent to 14.6 percent, staying relatively the same. Meats decreased from 31.3 percent to 21.5 percent. The worst part is that processed foods and sweets increased from 11.6 percent to 22.9 percent.
Thanks to subsidies
According to Mother Jones, part of the reason we pay less for groceries is decades of farming subsidies, which amounted to $261.9 billion from 1995 to 2010. Since 1970, the amount of corn produced in America has gone tripled, rising from 4 billion bushels to 12 billion last year.
Grain prices and meat prices have increased a lot recently 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.
Good news for country
In contrast to other developed nations, Americans spend less money on food every year. 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.
According to Mother Jones, out of the $32,051 in yearly outlays from the average home in 2009, 6 percent was for food. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical household spent $6,372 on food that year. Of that, $3,753 was food for the home and $2,619 was away from home. However, the typical British family spent 9 percent of their income on food that year; the French spent 14 percent.
An NPR article points out the reason behind this. It said that during the last 30 years, American food costs have been dropping.
Michelle Obama advocating better food
Recent Agency of Labor Statistics data indicates yearly household expenditures on food have ticked up to around 8 percent of yearly outlays. However, that is drastically less than the typical household in 1982, when food spending was closer to 13 percent.
During that time, only one fruit and vegetable increased in price, and this contains grapefruit with a 6.5 percent increase and bell peppers with a 34 percent increase. No meats have gone up in price. In fact, the cost of steak has dropped 30 percent from 1982 going from $7 a pound to $4.90 a pound on average. All around, food prices have decreased a ton.
Michelle Obama's complaints about child food health are totally justified whenever you consider the percentage of what people used on different foods. From 1982 to 2012, there were many changes in the amount spent on food. For instance, Fruits and vegetables went from 14.5 percent to 14.6 percent, staying relatively the same. Meats decreased from 31.3 percent to 21.5 percent. The worst part is that processed foods and sweets increased from 11.6 percent to 22.9 percent.
Thanks to subsidies
According to Mother Jones, part of the reason we pay less for groceries is decades of farming subsidies, which amounted to $261.9 billion from 1995 to 2010. Since 1970, the amount of corn produced in America has gone tripled, rising from 4 billion bushels to 12 billion last year.
Grain prices and meat prices have increased a lot recently 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.
