Cost of Food at Home
Cost of food at home estimated for food plans at four cost levels, September 1997, U.S. average(1)
Cost for 1 week
Low-
Sex-age group Thrifty cost Moderate- Liberal
plan plan cost plan plan
FAMILIES
Family of 2:(2)
20 – 50 years $56.90 $71.70 $88.70 $110.10
51 years and over 53.60 69.00 85.40 102.30
Family of 4:
Couple, 20 – 50 years
and children–
1 – 2 and 3 – 5 years 82.60 103.30 126.40 155.30
6 – 8 and 9 – 11 years 95.00 121.60 152.00 182.90
INDIVIDUALS(3)
Child:
1 – 2 years 14.80 18.20 21.20 25.70
3 – 5 years 16.10 19.90 24.60 29.50
6 – 8 years 19.80 26.40 33.00 38.30
9 – 11 years 23.50 30.00 38.40 44.50
Male:
12 – 14 years 24.40 33.90 42.00 49.50
15 – 19 years 25.20 35.00 43.50 50.40
20 – 50 years 27.20 34.70 43.50 52.70
51 years and over 24.60 33.20 40.90 49.10
Female:
12 – 19 years 24.40 29.20 35.40 42.70
20 – 50 years 24.50 30.50 37.10 47.40
51 years and over 24.10 29.50 36.70 43.90
Cost for 1 month
Low-
Sex-age group Thrifty cost Moderate- Liberal
plan plan cost plan plan
FAMILIES
Family of 2:(2)
20 – 50 years $246.50 $310.90 $384.20 $477.30
51 years and over 231.80 299.10 369.90 443.40
Family of 4:
Couple, 20 – 50 years
and children–
1 – 2 and 3 – 5 years 358.20 447.60 547.90 673.40
6 – 8 and 9 – 11 years 411.80 527.10 658.40 792.80
INDIVIDUALS(3)
Child:
1 – 2 years 64.30 78.70 92.00 111.50
3 – 5 years 69.80 86.30 106.60 128.00
6 – 8 years 85.80 114.50 142.90 166.10
9 – 11 years 101.90 130.00 166.20 192.80
Male:
12 – 14 years 105.50 146.90 182.00 214.40
15 – 19 years 109.20 151.50 188.50 218.30
20 – 50 years 117.90 150.40 188.60 228.30
51 years and over 106.40 143.90 177.30 212.70
Female:
12 – 19 years 105.60 126.50 153.30 185.20
20 – 50 years 106.20 132.20 160.70 205.60
51 years and over 104.30 128.00 159.00 190.40
(1) Assumes that food for all meals and snacks is purchased at the store and prepared at home. Estimates for the thrifty food plan were computed from quantities of foods published in Family Economics Review 1984(1). Estimates for the other plans were computed from quantities of foods published in Family Economics Review 1983(2). The costs of the food plans are estimated by updating prices paid by households surveyed in 1977-78 in USDA’s Nationwide Food Consumption Survey. USDA updates these survey prices using information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI Detailed Report, table 4, to estimate the costs for the food plans.
(2) Ten percent added for family size adjustment. See footnote 3.
(3) The costs given are for individuals in 4-person families. For individuals in other size families, the following adjustments are suggested: 1-person–add 20 percent; 2-person–add 10 percent; 3-person–add 5 percent; 5- or 6-person–subtract 5 percent; 7- or more-person–subtract 10 percent.
COPYRIGHT 1997 Superintendent Of Documents
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group
