Mid-South among most cost-burdened for groceries

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Groceries may feel more expensive in the Mid-South than in any other part of the country.

That’s because Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee rank at the top of the list for states that are cost-burdened by groceries.

"Wages are simply not enough,” said University of Memphis Professor Elena Delavega, who studies poverty.

This ConsumerAffairs report analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture to determine which states spend the greatest amount of their income on groceries.

Arkansas ranked #2 on the list (behind Louisiana).

According to the analysis, Arkansas has a median household income of $62,106 and an average annual household grocery spending budget of $8,223.

That means Arkansas residents spend 13.2% of their income on groceries