Food for Thought
Inner-city families who lack access to supermarket chains pay 22% more — and families in low-income rural areas 17.5% more — than the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s recommended budget for basic food items.
This two-page fact sheet spotlights a disturbing trend: Families who are already struggling to make ends meet are also paying some of the highest prices for basic staples of American life. It is one document in a 10-part series devoted to sharing ways that the Foundation is helping to economically empower families across the country.
Compared to their middle-class suburban counterparts, low-income households in urban and rural areas often pay thousands of dollars more for everything from groceries to mortgages. This income drain can destabilize family finances while deepening a spiral of disinvestment and decay that can undercut entire communities.