HIGH FOOD COSTS PUSH CONSUMERS TO CUT BACK ON DINING OUT, SHIFT SPENDING HABITS

While increasing food costs continue to make headlines, food buying behavior now reflects tradeoffs, with consumers reporting food affordability now is in a dead heat with taste as the two most important factors when purchasing food. In light of financial pressures, about half of those respondents to newly released national food attitudes survey report increasing prices have affected how often consumers are going out to restaurants, while agreeing strongly that increases in food prices have affected how they buy food, either at restaurants or grocery stores. 

The new research, conducted in partnership by nationally recognized agriculture insights and research firm Stratovation Group and top-ranked U.S. food and agriculture communications agency Inspire, provides insight into how consumers currently are navigating food purchasing, changing eating habits, and managing household food budgeting.

While survey respondents are evenly split about whether access to affordable, nutritious food is moving in the right or wrong direction, it is clear consumers are making tradeoffs to address rising food costs. 

Price Increases Cause Diners to Reconsider Restaurants 

Foodservice and retail are in direct competition for the same stressed consumer dollar right now. Well over half of respondents strongly agree that increases in food pricing have caused them to dine out less often.

While dining frequency is holding, it remains fragile. Just under half (49%) of respondents eat at a restaurant once a week or every other week (twice a month). Access to restaurant choices likely affects dining out, as those in suburban and urban communities are more likely to eat at a restaurant more than three times per week. 

Men are more likely to eat food prepared by a restaurant and to order restaurant delivery, and households with three or four members also were more likely to order food delivery.

Restaurant Habits Shift, Not Disappear

Despite shifting toward more at-home meals to combat rising food costs, respondents indicated they are still dining out and using restaurant delivery. Additional findings include:

• About 8 in 10 say they order restaurant delivery at least once each month
• DoorDash (64%) and UberEATS (47%) are the most frequently used restaurant delivery services

“Understanding the food value chain from farm to fork is essential in today’s food economy,” said Hinda Mitchell, president of Inspire. “Our research with Stratovation illuminates an important distinction – it’s no longer just about concerns related to rising food prices, it’s about how those concerns translate into decision making at retail and restaurants. Stratovation’s deep insights and Inspire’s expertise in applying those findings to consumer communication provide critical signals and opportunities for those producing food in the U.S.”

“Partnering with Inspire allows us to connect the dots across the entire food and agriculture value chain—from what’s happening on the farm to what’s ending up in consumers’ carts and on their plates,” said Cam Camfield, CEO of Stratovation Group. “This research makes it clear that today’s consumer is navigating a constant balancing act between cost, convenience and nutrition. By combining our ag insights with Inspire’s expertise in consumer communications, we’re able to deliver a more complete picture of how food and consumption trends are actually playing out in real time.”

Survey Demographics

The research was conducted in January 2026 and surveyed 823 U.S. consumers. Respondents were between the ages of 21-60 years old and identified as the primary grocery shopper. Approximately 53% of respondents were male, 45% female and 2% non-binary. An overwhelming majority (88%) of participants have four or less people in their households. The survey also included a strong cross-section of those living in suburban areas (43%), urban (36%) and rural (21%). 

To learn more about the study and methodology, visit AboutInspire.com/Research.

TO ACCESS A RESEARCH FACT SHEET AND GRAPHICS, CLICK HERE.