Food insecurity has increased among many U.S. households, particularly lower-income families, less-educated households and households with young children, according to new research released Wednesday by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
The New York Fed economists said food-related hardship rose between October 2025 and February 2026, with larger increases among nonwhite households, lower-income households and families with children. The findings were based on supplemental questions in the New York Fed’s Survey of Consumer Expectations, a nationally representative survey of about 1,200 household heads.
The research found that more households reported using savings to cover expenses, having trouble getting enough food, skipping meals or receiving public or private food assistance. Reuters reported that the New York Fed described the increase as broad-based but most pronounced among financially vulnerable households.
The findings add to evidence that consumer pessimism remains elevated even as broader economic indicators have looked stronger. The New York Fed said food-related hardship may help explain why lower-income households remain downbeat about the economy despite data showing continued overall economic strength.
The report places food insecurity within what the New York Fed has called a K-shaped economy, where wealthier households have benefited from rising asset values and stronger financial cushions while lower- and middle-income households face higher costs, tighter budgets and greater uncertainty.
The New York Fed said food hardship was linked with weaker expectations about future finances, job prospects and debt repayment. The bank’s economists said food insecurity tracked with a rise in pessimism among lower-income households and a sharp decline in expectations for finding work.
The pressure comes after several years of high prices for basic household needs. Reuters reported that inflation since the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to weigh on many Americans, while some forms of government support have pulled back. The New York Fed said lower-income households are facing affordability concerns tied to the cost of living, persistent inflation, high interest rates and elevated delinquency rates in credit cards, auto loans and student loans.
The findings also come as official U.S. food-security data show hardship remains widespread. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service said 47.9 million people lived in food-insecure households in 2024, including 33.8 million adults and 7.3 million children in households where children and adults were food insecure.
Food insecurity does not always mean a household is without food entirely. It can include uncertainty about whether a household can afford enough food, reduced meal quality or skipping meals because of limited money or resources. The New York Fed’s questions focused on recent food difficulty, skipped eating and use of food assistance.
The research may sharpen attention on the divide between headline economic data and household experience. Stronger aggregate figures can be supported by wealthier consumers, while lower-income households may still feel pressure from food, debt and job-market concerns.
For policymakers, the report points to food hardship as a possible reason for weak consumer sentiment among less affluent Americans. For households, it shows that financial stress is not limited to debt or savings, but is reaching basic needs such as food.