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Americans go into debt — this time for groceries

May 17, 2024
More than a quarter of Americans used a credit card to buy groceries last year and did not pay off the balance when it was due.
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In April, grocery store prices were flat — or even lower

May 15, 2024
Consumers tend to be very sensitive to food costs. Fresh edibles like fruit, vegetables and meat saw substantial declines.
The prices of fresh food like fruit, vegetables and meat saw some of the biggest decreases.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Summer EBT will help families buy groceries. But 14 states are opting out.

Apr 12, 2024
Administrative costs and a lack of political will are leading some states to turn down a new food aid program for children.
While $40 per child per month may not solve child food insecurity, it could help families that struggle with grocery costs.
Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images

Is the U.S. food safety system really all that safe?

Mar 19, 2024
The Food and Drug Administration oversees about 80% of our food supply, and facility inspections are few and far between.
Trader Joe's is known for eclectic products sourced from smaller producers. Landman says these smaller producers may not have as high quality assurance standards at their facilities, resulting in more recalls.
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Low inflation doesn't relieve pain of high prices

Feb 15, 2024
Consumers' inflation expectations are falling. But they say the high prices imposed by inflation are still eroding living standards.
A Little Griddle eatery in Portland, Oregon, where co-owner Judd Harris has struggled to balance the prices he pays for supplies with the prices he charges customers.
Mitchell Hartman / Marketplace

The little black lines that could: The barcode and its staying power

Jan 23, 2024
"Part of the reason they've succeeded this long is that they work fine," says Jordan Frith, a Clemson professor and author of "Barcode."
Barcodes are scanned billions of times a day, says Jordan Frith, a Clemson University professor.
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For public good, not for profit.

Grocery prices rose 1.3% in the past year. How are shoppers feeling it?

Jan 11, 2024
Here's how some families are trying to economize when it comes to the food they buy to make at home.
With grocery prices up, families are finding ways to economize on the food they buy at the store.
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Members-only retailers are a status symbol in China

Sep 18, 2023
While regular supermarkets are struggling in China, aspirational consumers keep Sam’s Club, Costco and its Chinese competitor Freshippo X expanding.
A shopper walks out with a full shopping cart from a Sam's Club in Shanghai. Membership retailers are expanding in China despite traditional supermarkets struggling.
Charles Zhang/Marketplace