Total U.S. Food Spending Reaches $2.51 Trillion

               Source: USDA

U.S. food spending by consumers, businesses, and government entities increased to $2.51 trillion in 2025 from an inflation-adjusted $1.56 trillion in 1997, with spending growth for both food at home and food away from home.

Inflation-adjusted, or constant-dollar, spending estimates remove the effect of price changes over time and are expressed in 2025 dollars. Separating out the price effect provides a clearer picture of changes in food spending patterns over time.

Food-away-from-home spending grew more than food-at-home, increasing to $1.41 trillion in 2025 from an inflation-adjusted $818 billion in 1997. Food-at-home expenditures increased to $1.10 trillion from $738 billion over the same period.

Food away from home accounted for 56.3 percent of total food expenditures in 2025.

EDITOR’S TAKE:

These numbers are staggering! That is a tremendous amount of growth from 1997 to 2025. It is not surprising that food-away-from-home expenditures increased more rapidly than food-at-home. However, with recent inflationary pressures, we may see a slight reversal in that trend when the next stats are issued. In the meantime, our country is blessed with an abundant supply of food, be it in the home or in the restaurant.

Be sure to recognize that this story is only possible because of the dedicated farmers/ranchers, processors, distributors, retailers and food establishments that keep us fed every single day. Let them know you appreciate what they do and how well they provide for our food needs.