More Americans are experiencing hunger now than at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic six years ago, according to a new study. The research recorded a “remarkable increase in food insecurity” and found that 10 percent of families were skipping meals due to a lack of food. In 2020, only 4 percent of households reported missing meals.
Rising costs and economic strain
The development comes amid high gas prices, partly driven by the war with Iran, and a rising cost of living. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York released its report in Liberty Street Economics, drawing on the February edition of its Survey of Consumer Expectations. The survey, along with two reports from 2020 and one from October 2025, was used to analyze “household financial stress and food insufficiency.”
An analysis of the February survey by NPR revealed that food insecurity levels this year surpassed those seen during the summer of 2020. In addition to the 10 percent of families reporting missed meals, nearly 16 percent of respondents relied on food donations. Among households earning less than $50,000 annually, almost 20 percent were forced to skip meals or go without. In contrast, in 2020, fewer than 7 percent of low-income families reported missing meals.
Food banks overwhelmed
Amy Breitmann, who runs the Golden Harvest Food Bank in Augusta, Georgia, has witnessed a surge in demand. “We have some distributions where people are sitting in a 2-to-3-mile line the night before a distribution starts,” Breitmann told NPR. “They’re sleeping in their cars.”
Similarly, Nicole Williams, CEO of the Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, said her organization is moving to a larger building to meet increased needs. The food bank serves 12 counties across the state. “Food insecurity could be your next-door neighbor,” Williams said. “When gas costs a little bit more, or food costs a little bit more, or they have a repair on their car or a medical bill, that takes away what they might be using to spend on food.”
Impact of the Iran war on gas prices
The survey was conducted before the war with Iran began on February 28, which caused a spike in gas prices. At the start of February, the average gas price was $2.92 per gallon, according to GasBuddy. By March 1, it had soared to $3.70, and by early May, it reached $4.50 per gallon. Breitmann noted that rising gas prices are straining household budgets, forcing many to cut back on food. “If you’re adding on another $100 to your budget a month just to put gas in your car to get to work or drop your kids at school, where is that $100 coming from? Most typically, they’re having to pull it from the grocery budget,” she said.
Rise in SNAP benefits reliance
The New York Fed survey also found a growing number of people relying on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Nearly 18 percent of families surveyed received SNAP, up from 10.6 percent in 2020. Among lower-income families, more than 38 percent are now receiving SNAP, an increase from around 22 percent six years ago.
The report suggests a K-shaped economy, where consumption growth has been driven largely by higher-income and college-educated households, while lower-income households have seen fewer gains. According to the New York Fed, there are “high and growing levels of net wealth,” fueled by rising stock prices, near-peak home equity, and lower mortgage payments. However, the bottom of the K-shape reflects a “significant share” of middle and lower-income Americans experiencing “elevated levels of economic uncertainty and financial hardship.”
