49% of Americans are struggling to afford food: Report
FILE - A Safeway customer browses in the fruit and vegetable section at Safeway's new "Lifestyle" store July 18, 2007 in Livermore, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
Nearly half of Americans are struggling to afford food, according to an analysis by LendingTree.
Most people have changed their grocery shopping habits and how often they eat out at restaurants as prices of everyday items remain stubbornly high.
By the numbers:
More than half of Americans (52%) are spending more on food this year compared to last year and 49% said it is at least somewhat difficult to afford food right now.
Changing grocery shopping habits
Dig deeper:
For more Americans, grocery shopping has turned into a strategic visit, according to LendingTree.
More people (nearly 90%) are becoming mindful of what they buy, creating lists and using coupons or even waiting for sales at the grocery store.
About 16% said they now take trips to several different stores to save a little on spending.
The other side:
Lower-income households did not report much change in their spending habits at the grocery store, according to LendingTree, but they are among the most likely to say they are buying fewer items.
"This points to a concerning trend: Many low-income households may already be using common cost-cutting strategies — and are now reducing food purchases because they can’t trim costs further," LendingTree said.
Cutbacks on restaurant spending
A majority of Americans are cutting back on going out to eat and getting delivery.
Broken down, about 39% of people have said they are eating out less and 16% have said they stopped getting food delivered to the house.
If the opportunity to go out to eat does arise, most people have opted for cheaper restaurants or fast food.
An interesting habit that is also trending for some Americans is eating at home before going out for a smaller meal, LendingTree noted.
Tipping amid inflation
Sixty-six percent of Americans have said inflation has changed how they tip.
But these changes vary by generation.
Gen Z:
26% don’t tip for takeout or delivery
29% tip less than they used to at restaurants
Boomers:
64% say their tipping habits haven’t changed
Millennials:
20% say they tip more than they used to
The Source: Information for this article was taken from a LendingTree analysis conducted between Feb. 4, 2026-Feb. 10, 2026. LendingTree surveyed 2,000 U.S. adults aged 18-80. This story was reported from San Jose.