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The American Food Pyramid, by spending

By Julia Ingram April 22, 2022

In the first two and a half months of 2022, the majority of total volume of food products sold weekly were beverages, food sales data published by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Percent change in sales by volume from

January to Mid-March 2020 to 2022

-14%

-5%

6%

18%

-9.5%

0%

12%

Meat, eggs and nuts 6%

Eggs

Fish is the only food group in this

category where spending increased

from two years ago.

Commercially-prepackaged

foods 6%

Americans spent a lot less

on prepackaged sweets, l

ike Oreos and candy bars,

and more on miscellaneous

prepackaged foods.

Red

meat

Fats and oils <1%

Processed

sweets

Water

Grains 2%

Spending on grain-based

meals and sides, like boxed

pasta or rice, went down.

Beverages 65%

Non-alcoholic beverages are by far the

largest food category Americans

spend on — and mostly sugary drinks.

Spending by volume on beverages

has gone up in every category

Dairy 4%

Spending on milk, yogurt

and cheese increased

slightly.

Fruit drinks and non-carbonated sugary drinks

Misc.

Vegetables 4%

Fruit 11%

Americans bought fewer

vegetables in general,

but mostly spent less

on canned veggies.

Americans bought more

fruit juice and less fresh

and canned fruit.

Carbonated,

non-alcoholic

drinks

Fruit juice

Alcohol <1%

Sugar and sweeteners <1%

Other 1%

Percent change in sales by volume

from 2020 to 2022

18%

0%

-14%

Commercially-

prepackaged

foods 6%

Meat, eggs and nuts 6%

Eggs

Fats and oils <1%

Processed sweets

Grains 2%

Beverages 65%

Dairy 4%

Fruit drinks and

non-carbonated

sugary drinks

Vegetables

4%

Fruit

11%

Fruit juice

Alcohol <1%

Other 1%