Higher grocery prices make holiday hosting more stressful, survey says

Rising grocery prices are expected to add pressure to holiday gatherings this year, but cutting back on traditional meals may not be on the menu for many Americans.

Half of Americans say higher grocery costs are making holiday hosting more stressful, according to Omnisend survey data shared exclusively with USA TODAY, even as a majority still plan to host or provide food for holiday meals with family and friends.

The findings come as food-at-home prices were up 2.2% in August from a year earlier, Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows. Some holiday staples have climbed even more, including other uncooked poultry such as turkey, up 11.5%, and beef and veal, up 5.9%.

In the Omnisend survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers, 53% said they plan to take part in holiday gatherings by hosting or bringing food, while 33% expect to spend more on holiday groceries and food than they did last year.

"Food is a connector. Hosting is a connector, and I think my guess is most people are not going to want to cut back on the groceries," Greg Zakowicz, ecommerce and retail adviser to Omnisend, told USA TODAY. "They might trade down the brand names, go with the cheaper…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/money/