States that spend the most, least on holiday groceries include...
The vast majority of Americans are expected to see their grocery bills increase this holiday season, with consumers in some states being impacted more than others.
According to new research from Upgraded Points based on U.S. Census Bureau data and a survey of 3,400 Americans, 80% of Americans will see their grocery bills increase, with nearly two-thirds (65%) reporting that they shop more frequently during the holidays.
To determine the parts of the country that spend the most on groceries and where grocery store access is highest, the study analyzed data from the census on grocery spending and density in every state, normalizing those data points against median income and population.
The states that will see the largest spikes in grocery spending during the holiday season are Hawaii (29.8%), Montana (28.3%), Tennessee (28.2%), Virginia (27.9%) and Texas (27.7%). Upgraded Points says that given Hawaii’s high cost of living and reliance on imported goods, increased holiday spending is no surprise.
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Southern states, where incomes tend to be lower than national averages, will feel the impact of grocery spending more sharply. The states that will spend the most of their income on groceries include Mississippi (21.1% of income), West Virginia (20.2%) Louisiana (19.9%), New Mexico (19.7%) and Alabama (18.4%).
In contrast, northeastern states that tend to be higher-income will spend the least of their income on groceries. New Hampshire leads the way at only 10.7%, followed by Maryland (11.2%), New Jersey (11.4%), Massachusetts (11.5%) and Utah (11.8%). Utah stands out as the only western state, which Upgraded Points says could be due to its comparatively lower grocery costs and larger average household sizes that benefit from economies of scale.
When it comes to states with the greatest access to grocery stores, the northeast once again is in the lead. New York has the highest grocery store density at 4.3 stores per 10,000 residents, reflecting its urban centers like New York City, where accessibility to grocery stores is a necessity. The state is followed by Vermont (3.3), Alaska (2.9), Maine (2.6) and New Jersey (2.6).
Arizona, Nevada and Utah all have the fewest grocery stores per 10,000 residents at 1.1, followed by New Mexico and Texas at 1.2 each. According to Upgraded Points, this reflects the southwest’s sprawling suburbs and larger distances between population centers. States like Texas and Arizona, known for their expansive geographies, often consolidate grocery stores into larger chains serving wider areas, which may force residents to drive farther for groceries, impacting convenience and potentially influencing spending habits.
"Grocery spending is a part of every household budget, yet how much Americans spend and where they shop can vary dramatically depending on their state and the time of year," said Keri Stooksbury, editor-in-chief at Upgraded Points. "Understanding how much of someone's income goes to groceries and what their access to grocery stores is like can provide valuable insights into people's everyday lives, particularly around the holiday season."
