Americans Say Grocery Bills Keep Rising Despite Trump's Promises
More than half of U.S. consumers report struggling to afford food as prices remain elevated well into Trump's second term.
More than two years after Donald Trump pledged on the campaign trail to cut grocery costs "starting on day one" of a second White House term, American shoppers say their food budgets are under greater strain than ever. A tableau of flour bags, egg cartons, and cooking oil served as a backdrop for that promise in 2024 — a promise that has yet to materialize at the checkout line.
More than half of Americans now report difficulty affording groceries, according to Guardian readers surveyed on their household food spending. The accounts reflect a broad pattern of consumers buying fewer items while paying significantly more, a squeeze that has reshaped shopping habits across income levels.
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Several overlapping forces are driving the sustained price pressure. Supply chain disruptions, escalating tariff disputes, and the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have all contributed to elevated food costs. At the same time, severe reductions to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — commonly known as SNAP — have removed a critical buffer for low-income households that depend on federal food assistance.
Climate-related disruptions to agricultural output have added another layer of volatility to an already strained food system. Together, these factors have made the grocery store a focal point of economic anxiety for millions of Americans who had expected relief by now.
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