There are more Americans experiencing food insecurity now than there were during the pandemic, a new survey from the Federal Reserve of New York found.
In the survey from Feb. 2026, the New York Fed asked American households about their spending habits, just as consumer sentiment reached an all-time low this month and as the economic effects of the Iran war were starting to be felt at home. The survey asked Americans questions such as if someone in their household dipped into savings to cover expenses; had trouble finding enough food to eat; had children miss meals: received food donations; or received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
The Fed said the results are concerning, as the percentages of economic hardships increased across the board, compared to when the Fed conducted the Survey of Consumer Expectations early in the pandemic.
“We find a remarkable increase in food insecurity, particularly among lower-educated and lower-income households and households with young children,” the researchers wrote.
One-tenth of respondents reported not having enough food to eat or that their children missed meals, more than double the 4% who reported so in June 2020. More than a third of households reported dipping into savings to pay for groceries, compared to just 21.8% early in the pandemic.
