Americans pay for food in 40 days

Food in America is affordable. In fact, in only about 40 days, the average American will have earned enough disposable income to pay for his or her food supply for the entire year, according to the Warren County Farm Bureau.

As a result, the Warren County Farm Bureau celebrated last Thursday, Feb. 5, as Food Check-Out Day. According to the latest statistics compiled by the USDA, American families and individuals currently spend, on average, just 10 percent of their disposable personal income for food.

Applying the current statistic to the calendar year, it means the average household will have earned enough disposable income (that portion of income available for spending or saving) to pay for its annual food supply in just 40 days.

“Not only is America’s food supply the world’s safest, but it’s also the most affordable,” said Tammie Gribble, chairperson of the Warren County Farm Bureau Women’s Committee. “It speaks well of our nation’s increasing standard of living, which would certainly be reduced without the safe, abundant and affordable domestic food supply produced by America’s farmers and ranchers.”

In comparison to Food Check-Out Day, Tax Freedom Day, the day the average American has earned enough money to pay federal, state and local taxes, was April 19 last year, according to the Tax Foundation.

The percent of disposable personal income spent for food has declined over the past 25 years. In 1970, Food Check-Out Day would have been 14 days later. This decrease is made more notable by the fact trends indicate Americans are buying more expensive convenience food items for preparation at home, as well as more food away from home.