How much are Virginians spending on groceries? ‘WalletHub’ breaks down the state’s spending

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — With inflation rising in America, many Virginians are feeling the effects with grocery prices.

“While grocery prices have gone up tremendously in recent years, the states in which people spend the greatest percentage of their income on groceries actually aren’t those with the highest prices,” said WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo in a release.

To help citizens save money, the personal-finance website, WalletHub, has broken down which US states are paying the most for groceries.

According to a release, the list is calculated by analyzing the prices of 26 common groceries purchased in each of the US states. These prices were then added together and compared to median household income. This newly calculated data was then used to create a ranked list of which states are spending the most of their income on groceries.

“Instead, the median incomes in these states are quite low, so even with reasonable grocery prices, residents end up shelling out a higher percentage of their earnings than people in states with more expensive products,” said WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo.

According to the list, Virginia is ranked number 43 with its citizens spending 1.66% on the cost of monthly goods. Additionally, WalletHub broke down how much money Virginians were spending on specific goods:

Grocery Spending in Virginia (1=Most Expensive; 25=Avg.):

• Average Cost of Groceries: $121.04
• Average Cost of Groceries as % of Median Monthly Household Income: 1.66%
• 37^th – Average Price of Ground Beef
• 16^th – Average Price of Eggs
• 37^th – Average Price of Bananas
• 16^th – Average price of Corn Flakes
• 18^th – Average Price of Soft Drinks
• 23^rd – Average Price of Dishwashing Detergent

**Information above was provided in a release**

Some experts offer advice on how to save money while shopping for groceries.

“Probably the best way to save money is to plan around weekly promotions offered by your grocery store,” said Northwestern University Professor of Marketing, Eric T. Anderson. “Consumers who take the greatest advantage of in-store discounts and coupons do considerable planning.”

“If we are going to consider tips for lowering our grocery bills…we can do all those simple and off-the-cuff things like: make a list and stick to it; buy non-perishables in bulk…; no-impulse buying; and apportion out meals according to actual portion sizes,” said Fordham University Senior Assistant Dean, Mario J. DiFiore, Ph.D.

To learn more about which states spend the most and other ways to save money, click here.