Grocery prices continue to rise. Mississippi shoppers are now facing an average weekly expense of $290 for their supermarket trips.
The figure, determined by the U.S. Census via a survey conducted at the end of October, is notably elevated in a state recognized for its affordable living expenses. Mississippi has been identified as the fifth most costly state in the country for groceries, according to the survey, following only Hawaii, Alaska, California, and Nevada.
The rising costs are pushing dissatisfied customers to alter their behaviors. The demand is rising throughout South Mississippi.
“People are running out of options,” said Michael Ledger, the president and chief executive officer at Feeding the Gulf Coast. “It’s just getting tighter and tighter.”
The rising costs of groceries have become a pressing concern for many consumers.
The increase in grocery prices started during the pandemic, as staffing challenges affected both stores and manufacturing facilities. The cost of transporting food surged following the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in 2022, leading to higher energy and grain prices. An outbreak of avian influenza that year led to a significant increase in egg prices.
Challenges in the supply chain are beginning to resolve, and inflation rates are decreasing. The increase in food prices is decelerating.
However, food prices remain high, leaving shoppers feeling exasperated. The U.S. Department of Agriculture indicates that prices are likely to rise by over two percent by 2024. The prices of meat, eggs, and fruit remain elevated compared to usual levels.
One food category has experienced a bit of relief: Prices for seafood have dipped slightly this autumn due to reduced demand.
The challenges are impacting customers in Mississippi more severely due to the state’s status as the least affluent in the nation. The grocery tax stands at an impressive 7%, making it the highest in the nation. Mississippi stands out as one of the 13 states imposing taxes on groceries. Several state officials have expressed a desire to lower the grocery tax in the upcoming year.
In the past two weeks, more than 400 individuals have visited the food pantry at The Lord is My Help in Ocean Springs, according to manager Barbara Ruddiman. The organization provides meals for 150 individuals daily.
“Our numbers for the food pantry have really increased,” she said. “People can’t afford to buy groceries.”