Higher gas prices — now an average of $4 per gallon across the United States — are making a dent in grocery budgets. Almost 40% of respondents to a Snipp survey say they’ve delayed or postponed major purchases because of higher prices, with 36% saying they’ve cut grocery spending. Almost 64% say they’ve pulled back on dining out. “Rising fuel prices are a material force reshaping how Americans shop for groceries,” the survey notes. “The behavioral changes are broad, multi-dimensional, and unlikely to reverse in the near term.” Forty percent of the 1,100 respondents have switched to cheaper store brands, while nearly as many have used coupons or loyalty programs to cut costs.
