Food Insecurity Is Higher Than 2020: New York Fed Survey Shows More Americans Going Hungry Than During The Pandemic

In the summer of 2020, with the country shut down, about 4% of American households said they did not have enough to eat. Today that number is 10%. More people are going hungry now than during the pandemic.

What did the New York Fed survey find?

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York's Survey of Consumer Expectations called it a "remarkable increase" in food insecurity. The key findings:

• 10% of households reported skipping meals or not having enough food, up

from 4% in June 2020.

• Nearly 16% of families relied on food donations.

• Nearly 1 in 5 low-income families (households earning under $50,000)

skipped or missed meals.

• Families with young children and households with less formal education

saw the sharpest jumps.

More households also reported dipping into savings just to buy groceries. That is financial strain showing up at the dinner table.

Why is hunger rising when the economy looks strong?

Economists call it a K-shaped economy. Families at the top are doing fine. Families at the bottom are falling behind. The averages look healthy, but the household budget tells a different story.

Two costs are doing the most damage:

• Gas prices are cutting into grocery budgets. The national average sat at $4.15 a gallon in earlyNovember. Every extra dollar at the pump is a dollar not spent on food.

• Rising food prices add up. Overall inflation hit 3.7% in September, driven by energy. Higher fuel costs also raise what it takes to truck food to store shelves.

What this means here at home

Our mission with one job: making sure no neighbor in our community goes hungry. The national numbers are showing up at our door too, in working parents, seniors on fixed incomes, and veterans who never expected to ask for help. Government programs come and go. Neighbors helping neighbors has always been the American answer, and this holiday season it matters more than ever.

How you can help:

Donate: Food donations are down and grocery costs are up, so every dollar

stretches our shelves further. A monthly gift is the steadiest support you can give.

Volunteer: One morning a week for sorting, packing, or delivering.