Individuals spend less on groceries than other developed countries. Unfortunately, we also spend more on junk food than fruits and vegetables.
Spending less on food
In contrast to other developed countries, Americans spend less money on food each year. Still, the average American income is $50,000 per year, and that is not quite enough money to take care of a typical family of four with pets.
Compared with other nations, the United States is not looking too bad since the typical British family spends 9 percent of the yearly outlay on food and the typical French family will spend 14 percent. Mother Jones points out that Individuals only spent six percent of the $32,051 yearly outlay for 2009. That adds up to $6,372 total on food for the year: $3,753 for food in the home and $2,619 for food away from the home.
The cost of food in America decreasing for the past 30 years is the biggest reason, according to the NPR article.
Reason for Michelle's campaign
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 dropped 30 percent from 1982 going from $7 a pound to $4.90 a pound on average. Overall, food costs have dropped 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. Fruits and vegetables 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 might be criticized for advocating feeding children more fruits and vegetables, but she can be on to something.
All because of the government
From 1995 to 2010, the agriculture industry has received $261.9 billion in subsidies. The amount of corn produced manufactured in America increased from 4 billion bushels to 12 billion bushels in that time. This is part of why we are paying less for groceries, according to Mother Jones.
Grain costs and meat prices have increased a lot lately though. In 2011, the price of grain doubled and the price of meat increased 8 percent.
Only about 15.8 percent of the money brought in from selling food goes to the farmer who produced it, which means farmers do not benefit from the low costs, according to the Department of Agriculture. The Daily Green points out that this means farmers need higher costs.
Spending less on food
In contrast to other developed countries, Americans spend less money on food each year. Still, the average American income is $50,000 per year, and that is not quite enough money to take care of a typical family of four with pets.
Compared with other nations, the United States is not looking too bad since the typical British family spends 9 percent of the yearly outlay on food and the typical French family will spend 14 percent. Mother Jones points out that Individuals only spent six percent of the $32,051 yearly outlay for 2009. That adds up to $6,372 total on food for the year: $3,753 for food in the home and $2,619 for food away from the home.
The cost of food in America decreasing for the past 30 years is the biggest reason, according to the NPR article.
Reason for Michelle's campaign
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 dropped 30 percent from 1982 going from $7 a pound to $4.90 a pound on average. Overall, food costs have dropped 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. Fruits and vegetables 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 might be criticized for advocating feeding children more fruits and vegetables, but she can be on to something.
All because of the government
From 1995 to 2010, the agriculture industry has received $261.9 billion in subsidies. The amount of corn produced manufactured in America increased from 4 billion bushels to 12 billion bushels in that time. This is part of why we are paying less for groceries, according to Mother Jones.
Grain costs and meat prices have increased a lot lately though. In 2011, the price of grain doubled and the price of meat increased 8 percent.
Only about 15.8 percent of the money brought in from selling food goes to the farmer who produced it, which means farmers do not benefit from the low costs, according to the Department of Agriculture. The Daily Green points out that this means farmers need higher costs.
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