News briefing · Published
Nearly half of Americans find affording groceries a real challenge
How can I build a pantry when affording groceries is hard?
A LendingTree survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers found 49% said affording groceries is a real challenge. A budget pantry uses shelf-stable basics you already eat, bought a little at a time and rotated so older items get used first. Buying steadily spreads the cost across the year.
Fresh Fruit Portal reports that 49% of U.S. consumers say affording groceries is a real challenge. The figure comes from a LendingTree online survey of 2,000 adults aged 18 to 80.
What happened
The survey was published in March 2026. Separately, several polls reported through the summer describe grocery costs as a leading voter concern ahead of the 2026 midterms.
What it means for your home
A small, steady pantry can help a household cope with price swings. Buying staples you already eat, a little at a time, spreads the cost out.
What to do this week
- Pick two or three shelf-stable staples your family eats regularly.
- Buy one extra of each on your next regular shop.
- Rotate older items to the front.
- Keep a manual can opener in the kitchen drawer.
- Note what you used so you can plan the next purchase.
Read food safety when the fridge and freezer lose power to learn how long food stays safe in a fridge and freezer during an outage.
Sources
This briefing is general information, not medical, legal or electrical advice. In an emergency, call 911 or your local emergency number.