#United States #Austin #Holiday Spending #Upgraded Points #Grocery Shopping

As the holiday season approaches, a considerable 80% of Americans anticipate an uptick in their grocery bills, reflecting a broader trend in holiday spending. Research conducted by Upgraded Points investigates the dynamics of grocery shopping, emphasizing various states' spending behaviors and accessibility to groceries across the nation.

Key Findings

During this festive period, a striking 65% of the population report shopping at the grocery store more frequently. The increase in grocery costs has been significant, with a staggering 88% of respondents acknowledging a rise in their expenses over the past year and 93% indicating higher costs compared to three years ago.

The study categorizes states that see the most substantial increases in grocery expenses, topping the list
are:

• - Hawaii: 29.8%
• - Montana: 28.3%
• - Tennessee: 28.2%
• - Virginia: 27.9%
• - Texas: 27.7%

Hawaii's elevated grocery prices can be attributed to its higher cost of living and reliance on imported goods, making seasonal splurges particularly expensive. Meanwhile, Texas reflects a culturally rich and diverse array of holiday traditions, prompting residents to spend more during this season.

Additionally, the study reveals the states where grocery spending constitutes a significant percentage of household income. This list includes:

• - Mississippi: 21.1%
• - West Virginia: 20.2%
• - Louisiana: 19.9%
• - New Mexico: 19.7%
• - Alabama: 18.4%

These rankings suggest that lower-income states, particularly in the South, experience a more pronounced impact from grocery prices.

Conversely, the states spending the least of their income on groceries include:

• - New Hampshire: 10.7%
• - Maryland: 11.2%
• - New Jersey: 11.4%
• - Massachusetts: 11.5%
• - Utah: 11.8%

This pattern indicates that wealthier states tend to use a smaller portion of their income on grocery shopping, highlighting a stark contrast compared to those with lower household incomes.

Grocery Store Accessibility

Accessibility to grocery stores also varies across states. The analysis indicates that the states with the highest concentration of grocery stores per 10,000 residents are:

• - New York: 4.3 stores
• - Vermont: 3.3
• - Alaska: 2.9
• - Maine: 2.6
• - New Jersey: 2.6

In New York, urban centers like NYC drive a dense network of grocery options, ensuring that residents have ample access to food supplies.

On the flip side, states with the fewest grocery stores per capita include:

• - Arizona: 1.1 stores
• - Nevada: 1.1
• - Utah: 1.1
• - New Mexico: 1.2
• - Texas: 1.2

Here we see that states characterized by sprawling suburbs and larger distances to population hubs, such as Arizona and Texas, are more likely to have fewer grocery store options, resulting in longer trips for residents to acquire their necessities.

Conclusion

The findings elucidate how grocery shopping habits change as the holiday season advances. Understanding the various factors influencing these trends, from income levels to grocery store density, provides a crucial insight into American consumers' evolving expenses and preferences during this festive time.

For more in-depth analysis and insights into typical grocery shopping behaviors, including checkout preferences and payment trends, one can refer to the full study available through Upgraded Points.

About Upgraded Points: Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Upgraded Points offers valuable research and insights into travel and financial topics, aiming to simplify the complexities of travel reward programs and credit card usage. Founded by Alex Miller in 2016, the organization harnesses extensive survey data to inform and empower travelers on their journeys. Find out more at www.UpgradedPoints.com.