Raise your hand if you’ve noticed, complained about, didn’t buy food at the grocery store because of the price. And not just price, but today’s price compared to the two-years-ago price.
You are absolutely not imagining that groceries cost more and that you are buying less with the same paycheck. The graphic below entitled Grocery prices since 2019 shows the average retail store prices for the “10 foods with the largest weight in the Consumer Price Index” from August 2019 to August 2026 and the percent change in average US store prices.
Higher food prices affect everyone, obviously. But they disproportionately hurt low- and middle-income households more than wealthy households. The cost difference in a cart of groceries bought in 2019 compared with 2026 has to be made up in some way. But since these households have very little if any cushion in their budget, making up the difference means not buying, putting less toward other mandatory expenses, or charging, delaying payment, and incurring high-cost credit card debt.
At some point, there is no other way to absorb higher food prices than to reduce the food being purchased. The result too often is food insecurity, which the USDA defines this way:
At times during the year, these households were uncertain of having or unable to acquire enough food to meet the needs of all their members because they had insufficient money or other resources for food.”
Recently, the Federation of Virginia Food Banks announced that the latest research found “42% of Virginians are experiencing food insecurity. High food and household costs, including rent and health care, are putting added pressure on families, while federal cuts to SNAP and Medicaid threaten critical supports.”
There is some good news. The Town of White Stone is considering the installation of a “Blessing Box,” a self-serve resource available 24/7 containing food and personal care items. According to the October 8, 2026 edition of the Rappahannock Record article “White Stone Town Council discusses ‘Blessing Box’ and upcoming events,” the box could be located on the Village Green. Town Council member AnnGardner Eubank has been tasked with costing out the construction.
On October 9, the Northumberland County Department of Social Services teased a self-serve mini food pantry on Facebook. We can expect a small food pantry that will help meet some of the need in the county. More info will be shared as it becomes available.
