Americans’ average weekly grocery spending up 17% from pre-pandemic levels

Americans are going to the grocery store less but spending more than they did before the pandemic started.

American consumers’ average weekly grocery spending has increased by 17% to $190 from a pre-pandemic average of $163, according to a survey by LendingTree. About four in 10 consumers say they are going to the grocery store less often than they did pre-pandemic. However, men (51%) say they are going grocery shopping more often, while women (49%) are the ones taking fewer trips.

In other findings, 53% of respondents said they hit up multiple grocery stores per shopping trip. For example, they head to wholesale stores for bulk items and then the supermarket for everyday needs.

Additional findings from the LendingTree report are below.

•    Parents overspend most often, and also shop more frequently due to the pandemic than non-parents. To make up for it, 54% are couponing more frequently, and 60% say they visit multiple stores in search of sales items.
•    To cut down on shopping trips, 63% of consumers order food delivery at least once a week. Generation X orders delivery the most – 86% do so at least once per week, and of that group, 21% do so three or more times.
•    Thirty-five percent of all shoppers are using coupons more now than they did before the pandemic.