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ARLINGTON, Va. — Despite concerns over high prices, shoppers across the country remain surprisingly upbeat about their financial outlook and their ability to provide food for their families this holiday season. According to the latest U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends report by FMI—The Food Industry Association, consumers are finding creative ways to make ends meet and continue to enjoy their meals.
“While consumers are understandably concerned about their finances amidst continued inflation heading into the holidays,” FMI president and chief executive officer Leslie Sarasin said, “shoppers are proving to be just as resilient when it comes to preparing for their holiday meal celebrations. From looking for deals, shopping around at different stores and cooking more meals at home, shoppers remain excited for the holidays despite planning to ‘make do with less’ this year.”
Interestingly, while shoppers are cutting back on dining out, they are embracing expanded food service options at their local grocery stores. Shoppers are increasingly enjoying ‘hybrid’ meals that combine food made at home with semi- or fully-prepared items from the grocery store. This approach offers convenience and affordability during the hectic holiday season.
Cooking at home is a key strategy for shoppers who are trying to manage their expenses, with 31% indicating they are cooking at home more often. More than half of the respondents are planning to cook and eat more meals at home in the coming year, while 60% are dining out less. Only 14% plan to dine out more in 2024.
Interestingly, 20% of shoppers are buying more groceries to control their food spending, contributing to the average weekly grocery spend per household, which currently stands at $155 per week. This figure is higher than the $148 per week recorded last October but represents a decrease from the $164 per week spent in February of this year.
Despite their financial worries, the majority of shoppers, over 80%, express excitement about the upcoming holidays. Additionally, 18% of consumers are planning celebrations with more attendees than usual for the December holidays.
FMI’s U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends report also revealed that:
- 30% of shoppers plan to seek out deals for their holiday meals.
- 28% are willing to shop at different grocery stores to find the best deals.
- 53% plan to eat at home more in 2024.
- 52% plan to cook more meals at home in 2024.
