Individuals have it good, in a way, in that we spend less than many other first-world countries on food, which is fairly important. Granted, agricultural subsidies do have a good bit to do with it. However, we have also been investing more on unhealthy foods than almost any other type of food item.
Good news for nation
In contrast to other developed countries, Individuals spend less cash on food every year. Still, the average American income is $50,000 per year, and that is not quite enough cash to take care of a typical family of four with pets.
According to Mother Jones, out of the $32,051 in annual outlays from the average home in 2009, 6 percent was for food. According to the Agency 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.
The cost of food in America decreasing for the past 30 years is the biggest reason, according to the NPR article.
Michelle's thoughts
Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicates yearly household expenditures on food have ticked up to around 8 percent of annual 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 includes 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 decreased 30 percent from 1982 going from $7 a pound to $4.90 a pound on average. Overall, food prices have decreased a ton.
What some may view as troublesome is how much is used on what type of food. Meats dropped from 31.3 percent of food expenditures in 1982 to 21.5 percent of expenditures in 2012. Vegetables and fruit stayed broadly the same at 14.5 percent in 1982 and 14.6 percent in 2012. However, processed foods and sweets doubled from 11.6 percent in 1982 to 22.9 percent in 2012. Michelle Obama could be criticized for advocating feeding kids more vegetables and fruit, but she can be on to something.
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.
The price of meat went up 8 percent in 2011, and the price of grain doubled. This just shows that costs are beginning to go up, according to Forbes.
The low prices also do not benefit the farmer much. Aside from not much money in nominal terms, the Department of Agriculture estimates 15.8 percent of revenue from selling food goes to the entity that produced it, according to a post on The Daily Green.
Good news for nation
In contrast to other developed countries, Individuals spend less cash on food every year. Still, the average American income is $50,000 per year, and that is not quite enough cash to take care of a typical family of four with pets.
According to Mother Jones, out of the $32,051 in annual outlays from the average home in 2009, 6 percent was for food. According to the Agency 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.
The cost of food in America decreasing for the past 30 years is the biggest reason, according to the NPR article.
Michelle's thoughts
Recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicates yearly household expenditures on food have ticked up to around 8 percent of annual 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 includes 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 decreased 30 percent from 1982 going from $7 a pound to $4.90 a pound on average. Overall, food prices have decreased a ton.
What some may view as troublesome is how much is used on what type of food. Meats dropped from 31.3 percent of food expenditures in 1982 to 21.5 percent of expenditures in 2012. Vegetables and fruit stayed broadly the same at 14.5 percent in 1982 and 14.6 percent in 2012. However, processed foods and sweets doubled from 11.6 percent in 1982 to 22.9 percent in 2012. Michelle Obama could be criticized for advocating feeding kids more vegetables and fruit, but she can be on to something.
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.
The price of meat went up 8 percent in 2011, and the price of grain doubled. This just shows that costs are beginning to go up, according to Forbes.
The low prices also do not benefit the farmer much. Aside from not much money in nominal terms, the Department of Agriculture estimates 15.8 percent of revenue from selling food goes to the entity that produced it, according to a post on The Daily Green.
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