Consumers Stick With Healthy Foods

Consumers have increased their spending on healthy foods in the past several months despite price inflation, according to a study released here yesterday at the inaugural Healthy Foods International Exposition and Conference. The study — which solicited feedback from the industry and from more than 1,000 consumers in November 2007 and again in May 2008 — found that respondents indicated they were spending approximately 7.7% more on healthy foods in May than they did in November — $191.45 per household per month, compared with $177.69. “This appears to be both an acceptance of actual inflation in organic food prices and a deepening desire to find alternatives to conventionally produced goods,” the study noted. The survey indicated that 97.7% of respondents spent a portion of their grocery budgets on healthy foods in May, up from 96.5% in November; it also said 47.6% of households reported that at least half their purchases consisted of healthy foods.

Steve - actually, organic food prices have not inflated as much as conventional food has, especially if you buy your produce, meat, and poultry locally. Additionally, consumers realize that eating healthier saves money in the long-run on health care.