Inflation-adjusted grocery store sales down in 2022, USDA says
Adjusted for inflation, grocery store food and alcohol sales declined 2.3% in 2022 compared with 2021, according to a new Food Expenditure report from the USDA.
In contrast, the USDA reported that 2022 food and alcohol away-from-home sales (restaurant and other foodservice sales) were up 8% compared with 2021.
Grocery down
The report estimated that constant dollar (1988=100) grocery store sales of food and alcohol totaled $229.4 billion in 2022, down 2.3% from $234.8 billion in 2021 and down 2% from $233.9 billion in 2020.
2023 total food and alcohol expenditures for home consumption (grocery stores, other retail outlets, home delivery and direct selling by farmers) totaled $423.4 billion in constant dollars, down 1.6% from $429.9 billion in 2021 but up 2.4% from $413.4 billion in 2020.
By category, here are 2022 numbers for alcohol and food-at-home sales in constant dollars, with the percent change compared with 2021:
- Grocery store sales: $229.4 billion, down 2.3%.
- Convenience store sales: $6.7 billion, no change.
- Other food stores: $8.4 billion, down 8.7%.
- Warehouse clubs and superstores: $94.7 billion, down 3.6%.
- Other stores and food service: $42.5 billion, up 7%.
- Mail order and home delivery: $37.2 billion, up 1.6%.
- Direct selling by farmers, manufacturers and wholesalers: $3.4 billion, down 5.6%.
- Home production and donations: $1.1 billion, down 8.4%.
- Total food at home: $423.4 billion, down 1.6%.
Foodservice up
In contrast, the USDA said 2022 constant dollar (1988=100) sales for food and alcohol in foodservice and other away-from-home venues totaled $494.5 billion, up 8% from $457.9 billion in 2021.
By category, here are 2022 sales of food and alcohol away from home in constant dollars, with the percent change from 2021:
- Full-service restaurants: $170.4 billion, up 9%.
- Limited-service restaurants: $172.5 billion up 4.5%.
- Drinking places: $2.8 billion, up 12%.
- Hotels and motels: $21.6 billion, up 65%.
- Retail stores and vending: $56.7 billion, unchanged.
- Recreational places: $15.7 billion, up 43%.
- Schools and colleges: $26 billion, up 2.9%.
- Other food away from home sales: $8.7 billion, up 16%.
- Food furnished and donated: $20.1 billion, down 11.2%.
- Total food away from home: $494.5 billion, up 8%.
