Rising Food Costs Make Life Hard for Many Americans

Many people in the United States say high food prices are their biggest money worry. A new report found that food costs are making it harder for families to save money and move ahead.

The report says 9 out of 10 Americans are worried about grocery prices. Food costs are now a bigger concern than housing or health care for many people.

Food prices are still going up. Grocery prices are about 25% higher than they were five years ago. Even though price growth has slowed, many families still feel the extra cost every time they shop.

Another report found that many people now use credit cards to buy food. Some pay their full bill each month. Others only pay part of the bill. Some cannot even make the smallest payment. This can lead to more debt and extra fees.

Some families also use buy now, pay later plans to pay for groceries. Experts say this can help for a short time. But if people miss payments they may have to pay more money later.

Experts say the high cost of food is putting pressure on families across the country. They also say using credit for everyday needs can make money problems worse over time.

The reports show that this problem is not only for low income families. Some people with higher incomes are also finding it hard to keep up with rising food costs.