Changes in Food Consumption and Expenditures in American Households During the 1980's

Annual per person consumption of dairy products, fats and oils, flours and cereals, bakery products, meats, eggs, sugars and sweets, and fresh vegetables fell during the 1980's. Consumption of poultry, fish and shellfish, juices, and beverages rose. Annual per person spending when adjusted for inflation declined for almost all major food groups. This bulletin presents information on the quantity and dollar value of food consumption in American households for 1977-78 and 1987-88 by selected socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. The major changes over the decade are tabulated for 64 major food groups and compared with other studies to gain further insights into possible explanations for the consumption shifts. Data are from the household component of the 1977-78 and 1987-88 Nationwide Food Consumption Surveys conducted by the Human Nutrition Information Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. The tabulations are based on actual reported usage of foods from home food supplies with adjustments for meals eaten away from home.