Americans have it good, in a way, in that we spend less than many other first-world nations on food, which is fairly essential. Granted, farming subsidies do have a fair bit to do with it. However, we have also been spending more on processed foods than almost any type of food item.
Good news for country
The typical family of four with pets will find it difficult to get by with a $50,000 a year income, and that is the average in the country. There is good news. Compared to other developed countries, we are actually spending a lot less on food.
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.
An NPR article points out the cause of this. It said that during the last 30 years, American food costs have been dropping.
The First Lady advocating better food
In 1982, the average household spent 13 percent of the annual outlay on food, which means we are actually doing better now. This is despite the fact that the amount spent has increased to about 8 percent now, according to recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Food costs have actually dropped a lot in that time. In fact, no meats went up in price. Steak costs dropped from $7 a pound to $4.90 a pound from 1982 to 2012. Grapefruit costs increased 6.5 percent and bell pepper costs increased 34 percent. Other than that, no other fruits and vegetables increased in price.
You can certainly see changes in what individuals are spending most of their cash on now compared with 1982 though. Now, people spend about 21.5 percent of the spending budget on meats when it used to be 31.3 percent. Now, individuals spend 22.9 percent on processed foods and sweets when individuals used to spend 11.6 percent. Fruits and vegetable expenditures have stayed almost the same though since they are now at 14.6 percent and they used to be 14.5 percent. Michelle Obama's plan to help kids get healthier is well justified when you consider these statistics.
Subsidies do it
Mother Jones explained that the agriculture subsidies have helped produce more food making prices go down. In fact, the amount of corn produced produced from 1995 to 2010 in America increased from 4 billion bushels a year to 12 billion bushels. In that same time frame, $261.9 billion in subsidies have been given out.
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.
The low prices also don't benefit the farmer much. Besides not much cash 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 country
The typical family of four with pets will find it difficult to get by with a $50,000 a year income, and that is the average in the country. There is good news. Compared to other developed countries, we are actually spending a lot less on food.
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.
An NPR article points out the cause of this. It said that during the last 30 years, American food costs have been dropping.
The First Lady advocating better food
In 1982, the average household spent 13 percent of the annual outlay on food, which means we are actually doing better now. This is despite the fact that the amount spent has increased to about 8 percent now, according to recent Bureau of Labor Statistics data.
Food costs have actually dropped a lot in that time. In fact, no meats went up in price. Steak costs dropped from $7 a pound to $4.90 a pound from 1982 to 2012. Grapefruit costs increased 6.5 percent and bell pepper costs increased 34 percent. Other than that, no other fruits and vegetables increased in price.
You can certainly see changes in what individuals are spending most of their cash on now compared with 1982 though. Now, people spend about 21.5 percent of the spending budget on meats when it used to be 31.3 percent. Now, individuals spend 22.9 percent on processed foods and sweets when individuals used to spend 11.6 percent. Fruits and vegetable expenditures have stayed almost the same though since they are now at 14.6 percent and they used to be 14.5 percent. Michelle Obama's plan to help kids get healthier is well justified when you consider these statistics.
Subsidies do it
Mother Jones explained that the agriculture subsidies have helped produce more food making prices go down. In fact, the amount of corn produced produced from 1995 to 2010 in America increased from 4 billion bushels a year to 12 billion bushels. In that same time frame, $261.9 billion in subsidies have been given out.
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.
The low prices also don't benefit the farmer much. Besides not much cash 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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