Higher Prices Cause 76% of Consumers to Change How They Buy Food: NCSolutions

More than three-quarters of US consumers say their family has changed how they buy food because of price increases, according to new data from NCSolutions. Almost two-thirds (65%) say their income has not increased as fast as the cost of food, beverage, and personal care products.

The vast majority (85%) of respondents in the survey are concerned about inflation, and 83% expect the cost of living to continue to go up in the coming year. Just over half (53%) said they have noticed basic food staples being more expensive.

To cope with the higher prices, consumers are:

• Buying fewer non-essential food items (46%)

• Buying only the essentials (43%)

• Seeking out less expensive brands (45%)

• Loading up on pantry (27%) and freezer (26%) items

• Shopping closer to home (24%)

They’re also going without their favorite brands when the prices get too high (46%) and actively looking for sales (43%).