Melissa Donovan
A new nationwide study reveals how much Americans allocate to food at home — and Florida’s grocery spending stands out in both scale and share. According to Vesper Tool, a commodity intelligence platform, Florida families devoted $90.4 billion to groceries last year, part of the state’s $1,361.3 billion in total personal consumption. That places grocery spending at 6.64% of all expenditures, a rate comparable to Texas and Utah.
The findings, drawn from Bureau of Economic Analysis data, highlight how each state prioritizes food purchases relative to overall consumption. The analysis also underscores significant regional trends — particularly in the South.
Southern States Lead the Nation in Grocery Spending Share
Mississippi tops the list with residents allocating 8.46% of their total consumption to groceries, the highest share in the country. In 2023, households there spent $10.5 billion on food at home out of $123.9 billion in total consumption.
Hawaii and West Virginia follow closely, each with groceries making up 8.04% of spending. Hawaii residents spent $6.7 billion from $83.4 billion in total consumption, while West Virginians spent $6.8 billion from $84.2 billion.
Kansas ranks third at 8.01%, with $11.6 billion devoted to groceries. Kentucky, Montana, Georgia, Maine, South Carolina, Alabama, Oregon, and Vermont also place within the top tier of states where groceries claim the biggest share of household budgets.
Vesper Tool CEO Alexander Sterk said the data illustrates clear regional divides.
“These statistics show that grocery spending varies significantly across different states, with up to a 3-percentage point difference between the highest and lowest states,” he said.
He added that the dominance of Southern states in the rankings reflects a mix of economic and logistical factors:
“States with lower average incomes often see residents spending a higher percentage of their total consumption on essential items like groceries. The logistics of getting food to stores in these regions can impact total cost, which drives up the percentage people are spending.”
Florida’s Grocery Spending in Context
While Florida does not appear in the top 10 for highest grocery-spending share, the state’s total grocery bill is one of the largest in the nation due to its population size. With more than $90 billion going toward food at home purchases, Florida’s grocery market rivals those of the largest U.S. states.
For comparison:
Georgia, another Southeastern state with a similar demographic mix, allocates 7.49% of overall spending to groceries.
South Carolina follows at 7.48%, and Alabama at 7.38%.
Florida’s 6.64% share places it below much of the region, suggesting relatively lower grocery cost impact compared to neighboring states — despite extremely high total dollar spending.
Sterk noted that larger states tell a different story when comparing absolute dollars versus share of consumption:
“While the total dollar amount spent on groceries is much higher in populous states like California and New York, the percentage of spending tells a different story about the relative impact of food costs on residents in different areas of the country.”
States Spending the Least on Groceries
At the opposite end, Minnesota devotes the smallest share of consumption to groceries at 5.37%. Residents there spent $17.4 billion on food at home from $324.1 billion in total consumption.
Other low-spending states include:
North Dakota – 5.68%
Massachusetts – 5.73%
New Jersey – 5.73%
New York – 5.75%
Maryland – 5.77%
These states — largely Northeastern or Upper Midwest — form a clear regional contrast with the South’s higher grocery-spending percentages.
Why the Findings Matter for Florida
As Florida continues to experience rapid population growth, grocery demand and household spending remain key indicators of consumer behavior. With residents allocating more than $90 billion to food at home, the grocery sector represents a major component of the state’s economy. The study also provides insight into how Florida compares nationally — and how cost of living, income levels, and supply chains influence what families spend at the checkout line.
Source: https://vespertool.com/
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