Although inflation has fallen in recent years, a new study shows Tennesseans still spend a large portion of their paychecks on groceries.

a study Consumer Affairs It compared data from the U.S. Census Bureau from 2022 to 2023 and found Tennesseans spent about 2% more of their monthly income on groceries than the national average.

Grocery expenses became part of my paycheck every month. Area resident Scott Saunders said it felt like it had doubled in size.

American households spent an average of 6% more food annually in 2023 compared to 2022, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.

But in Tennessee, grocery bills have gotten even higher.

The research shows Tennesseans will spend nearly 15 percent of their monthly income on groceries alone in 2023; This rate is higher than the national average of 13 percent.

When I look at my receipt when we go shopping at the end of the day. However, we tend to shop at more than one place during the day. “When you look at the comparison of all these stores, they are just as high,” Saunders said.

The study reports that nearly every state sees a 1% or less increase in the share of household income going to groceries between 2022 and 2023.

However, food prices still remain a major source of expense for Americans due to a spike in inflation due to economic shocks caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cost of Living Adjustments do not occur as frequently as increases in groceries. “I think most people are probably feeling that these days,” Saunders said.

In Tennessee, the average monthly grocery bill in 2023 was $1,175, while the average monthly income was $7,848.

Saunders says he usually goes grocery shopping every week and a half, which works out to about $120 for two people.

It depends on whether we’re doing dinners, lunches, breakfasts and things like that. “Because even the prices of food at restaurants are high, and we’re trying to compensate by buying more food,” Saunders said.

Although Consumer Affairs’ survey does not include data through 2024, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that food prices in August 2024 were about 2% higher than the previous year.