Work

Behavioral Coping With Food Price Inflation: Patterns Among U.S. Households

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Recent food price inflation has placed substantial pressure on household budgets, food security, and mental well‐being. Using Household Pulse Survey data, we combine k‐modes clustering and Double Machine Learning to identify distinct household coping groups and examine differences in how households respond to rising food prices across groups. Results show that higher food prices are associated with increased grocery and prepared meal spending, elevate risks of food insufficiency, and worsen mental health conditions, with heterogeneity across coping groups. Households employing moderate substitution strategies show limited buffering, while those using more intensive coping behaviors remain highly vulnerable, highlighting the need for policy responses that address the multiple, co‐occurring dimensions of hardship including food access, financial strain, and mental health, rather than any single dimension in isolation.

Source: Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy

DOI: 10.1002/aepp.70124

Authors: Yuxiang Zhang, Yizao Liu

Institution: Pennsylvania State University

Language: English

Topic: Economics of Agriculture and Food Markets

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: No poverty, Good health and well-being, Zero hunger

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,750