Economy

American food spending shifts away from home

No one spent more on food outside the home than those in Washington, D.C.
David Chang presents a dish at Momofuku Noodle Bar in New York on Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011. (AP Photo/Diane Bondareff, File)

Americans are spending a larger share of their food budgets on meals outside the home than ever before, new government data shows, a reflection of a post-pandemic boom in spending on experiences.

The data, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, found the average American spent about $7,080 on food in 2023, more than half of which — $3,861 — was spent on what the agency calls food away from home.

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