Florida certainly holds the title of having one of the lowest tax burdens for families, businesses, and consumers. However, it is among the worst in terms of food costs.
The Sunshine State ranks 39th out of 50 states with lowest grocery prices, according to a new study by Food Label Maker (FLB).
FBL is a software group that works with food manufacturers and restaurants to analyze food nutrition. FBL compiled information from state-level national databases on 2024 per capita food prices compared to 2022 food prices.
The state with the lowest food costs was Texas, which was below the national average. Rounding out the other states, Michigan came in second and Mississippi came in third. Arkansas is 4th and Kentucky is 5th.
The states with the highest food prices for consumers were New York, Massachusetts, California, Alaska, and Hawaii.
Economic analysts say some states are still doing better than others when it comes to lowering food costs, and they still have nothing to be proud of.
Steve Beeman, an analyst at Florida Daily Financial, said everything is still expensive when you compare costs today to what they were five years ago.
“Certainly, looking back to the high point of inflation in 2022, things are now improving, but cost increases are still rising (albeit on a smaller scale) and consumers are now , we’re paying 20% more for food than we were at the beginning of 2021,” Beeman said.
“Consumers are increasingly focused on stretching their budgets while prioritizing the quality and nutritional value of the products they purchase,” said an official at the food label manufacturer. “This research provides valuable insights to help individuals and families make informed decisions about their food purchasing habits.”
