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First Post
23-04-2025
- Business
- First Post
In crust we trust: Why frozen pizzas are flying off shelves in the US
In recent weeks, frozen pizza sales in the US have seen a huge surge, and some experts suggest that this shift may indicate changing consumer habits. As the stock market shows signs of instability and tariffs continue to create economic pressure, many shoppers are on the lookout for early signs of a downturn. With growing concern over inflation and possible job losses, more people are opting to stay in and enjoy a frozen pizza rather than dining out read more In recent weeks, frozen pizza sales have jumped sharply in the US. Pixabay/Representational Image More people in the United States are buying frozen pizzas, particularly the higher-end ones. In recent weeks, sales have jumped sharply, a trend that some experts say could reflect changing habits among shoppers. Though the growing interest in frozen food is not entirely new, it is gaining attention once again. Even before the Covid-19 pandemic, the average American was eating nearly 40 pounds of pizza each year. ALSO READ | Americans are hoarding Korean sunscreen and beauty products. Here's why STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD So, why are people now turning more to frozen options, especially pizza? We explain what is behind this shift and why frozen pizza has become such a popular choice. Why frozen pizzas are flying off shelves in US The spike in frozen pizza sales in the US is not just about taste or convenience. It may also reflect how people are responding to economic pressures. With the stock market showing signs of instability and tariffs adding to the pressure, many consumers are looking out for early signs of a downturn. Alongside more common indicators like weaker job markets or reduced spending, experts point out subtle lifestyle changes, like buying more lipstick or smaller bottles of alcohol, as hints that people are feeling financial strain. One unexpected sign: a growing preference for frozen pizza, especially the premium varieties. Frozen pizzas are seen inside the Walworth County Food Pantry in Wisconsin, US, Reuters/File Photo Craig Zawada, chief visionary officer at Pros Holdings, a pricing strategy firm, told Business Insider, 'This happens every sort of downturn in the economy — there's increased demand for premium frozen pizzas, high-priced frozen pizzas.' He explained that people are choosing to stay in and enjoy a quality frozen pizza instead of going out to eat. As concerns about the economy rise again, many shoppers are opting to eat at home and stock up from the frozen aisle. This trend points to a shift in behaviour, influenced by inflation and continuing global uncertainty. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In 2024, the US frozen pizza industry brought in $6.5 billion in revenue, according to IBISWorld, which was still much higher than before the pandemic. For households watching their spending, a £10 frozen pizza can feel like an affordable treat. Food industry analyst Phil Lempert told Business Insider that frozen pizzas also stand out in shops. 'Because of the amount of different pizza brands that are out there, I would say that every week when I look at store circulars, there's at least one pizza on sale,' he said. Meanwhile, data from the US Census Bureau showed that retail sales in February rose by just 0.2%, falling short of forecasts, after January's figures were revised down to a 1.2% drop. The weak results have led many to wonder whether consumer demand is actually fading or simply shifting in new ways. Why this is not a new trend This is not the first time frozen pizzas have seen a rise in popularity during tough times. Whenever people feel financially stretched or simply unsettled, they often find comfort in the frozen food aisle. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In 2024, the US frozen pizza industry brought in $6.5 billion in revenue. Pixabay/Representational Image In fact, sales saw noticeable increases during both the 2009 recession and the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. During the height of the Great Recession in 2009, frozen food sales rose by 3.1%. When the pandemic struck in 2020, frozen pizza sales jumped by nearly $1 billion compared to the previous year, rising from $5.8 billion in 2019 to $6.6 billion, according to data from IBISWorld. Inflation and ongoing economic uncertainty continue to influence more home-focused habits, and this pattern is far from new. Alexander Chafetz, an investment banker who works in the consumer sector, told Business Insider, 'Frozen pizza has always been a good category.' He added that frozen pizza stood out during the pandemic when many people were out of work, money was tight, and families needed an affordable way to put food on the table in the evening.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Top Grocery Items Hit by Tariffs
Some grocery items are hit more than others by tariff wars. NPR published a list of the top 10 grocery items that are affected by tariffs. Phil Lempert, an industry analyst, told NPR that "probably almost half of the products in a supermarket — about 40,000 products — will be affected by these tariffs, whether it's the entire product or just an ingredient." However, the publication singled out some food and drink items that are particularly affected because a lot of them are imported from other countries. For example, NPR cited seafood. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, "To meet rising consumer demand, the United States increasingly relies on global suppliers to supplement domestic production. About 80 percent of estimated U.S. consumption of seafood comes from abroad—primarily from Canada, Chile, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam." A lot of the coffee in the United States also comes from other countries. "The United States is the world's second leading importer of coffee (both Arabica and Robusta varieties). In 2023, about 80 percent of U.S. unroasted coffee imports came from Latin America (valued at $4.8 billion), principally from Brazil (35 percent) and Colombia (27 percent)," the Department of Agriculture wrote. NPR also noted that fruit such as bananas, papayas, and melons comes from South American countries. It's not only food items. Alcohol will be affected also, with a large portion of beer and wine being produced elsewhere, according to NPR. Lempert told NPR that he believes imported alcohol items will "be clobbered" by tariffs. Rice, cheese, and nuts were also among the items cited by NPR.
USA Today
06-04-2025
- Business
- USA Today
What grocery items may cost more due to Trump's tariffs? Seafood, coffee, olive oil, more
What grocery items may cost more due to Trump's tariffs? Seafood, coffee, olive oil, more 'Probably almost half of the products in a supermarket will be affected by these tariffs, whether it's the entire product or just an ingredient," Food industry analyst Phil Lempert told NPR. Show Caption Hide Caption 10% global tariffs, more for countries on 'worst offenders' list President Donald Trump plans to enact 10% tariffs on all countries' imports and reciprocal tariffs, and more for countries on "worst offenders" list. Although President Donald Trump's self-proclaimed "Liberation Day" has passed, American grocery shoppers' wallets may soon feel the impact of the reciprocal tariffs imposed on several of the country's trade partners earlier this week. Food industry analyst Phil Lempert told NPR that "probably almost half of the products in a supermarket − about 40,000 products − will be affected by these tariffs, whether it's the entire product or just an ingredient." The goal of Trump's round of recent tariffs is to boost domestic manufacturing by making it more expensive for international companies to ship products into the U.S. On Wednesday, Trump and the White House announced the reciprocal tariffs against nations that charge fees to U.S. imports, with higher tariffs for what Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has called the "Dirty 15," a reference to the 15% of countries with the largest trade surpluses and high tariff and non-tariff barriers, according to Reuters. "Over the decades, they ripped us off like no country has never been ripped off in history and we're going to be much nicer than they were to us, but it's substantial money for the country," Trump told reporters on March 30, per ABC News. The reciprocal tariffs come after Trump decided to levy 20% tariffs on imports from China and 25% tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada earlier this year. With inflation and tariffs severely affecting the U.S. economy, grocery shoppers may need to be more diligent in their couponing going forward. Here are some grocery items that could, and may not, see a price hike due to Trump's enacted reciprocal tariffs. Will avocadoes, other fruits be impacted? Impacts on fruit prices could be a mixed bag, with some tropical varieties from Central and South America likely to be affected, while others from our nearest neighbors − Canada and Mexico − escaping Trump's reciprocal tariffs. The U.S. received 51% of its fresh fruit from Mexico, and 2% from Canada, in 2022, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Both countries were not on the White House and Trump's chart of nations facing reciprocal tariffs. Some other top sources of imported fruit include Guatemala, Costa Rica and Peru. All three countries are on the White House's chart and were given 10% reciprocal tariffs. Guatemala, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Honduras are the main exporters of bananas to the U.S., according to the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Guatemala also ships melons, plantains and papayas, USDA said, while Costa Rica exports pineapples, avocados and mangoes. "These products don't have a long shelf life, and with the tariffs, we're going to face significant issues with both price and availability," Lempert said about fruit, per NPR. While some fruits could see an increase in cost, Avocadoes may not be one of them. Avocados are one of the Mexican food items that the U.S. will be able to continue importing tariff-free, Reuters reported. Of the fresh avocados the U.S. imports, 87.6% come from Mexico, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data as of Jan. 7. Will vegetable costs increase? Approximately 69% of America's fresh vegetables came from Mexico, and 20% from Canada, in 2022, according to the USDA. "The United States receives fresh vegetables from more than 125 different countries, but most imports originate from Mexico and Canada," the USDA states. Between 1998 and 2020, the volume of fresh vegetable imports to the U.S. rose nearly 200%, and the value of fresh vegetable imports grew to exceed fresh exports by $7.6 billion, more than double the same figure a decade earlier, according to the government agency. While vegetables from Mexico and Canada may not be impacted by the reciprocal tariffs, veggies from other countries on the White House chart − including Guatemala, Costa Rica, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Honduras, Morocco and China − could see an increase in cost. Seafood likely to become more expensive The U.S. imports the vast majority of its seafood, up to 85%, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Due to this, and since several countries that supply fish and shellfish to the U.S. were among the hardest hit by tariffs, seafood will likely become more expensive going forward. Chile, India, Indonesia and Vietnam are the largest suppliers of imported seafood, according to the USDA. All four countries are on the White House's chart, but Vietnam was hit with the highest tariffs at 46%, while Chile (10%), India (26%) and Indonesia (32%) followed behind. 'About 70 to 80% of the U.S. seafood food supply is imported, and so that is not a number that the U.S. domestic industry can plug,' Andy Harig, vice president of tax, trade, sustainability and policy development at The Food Industry Association said, per Today. 'So you're going to see that the cost of the seafood department go up.' Coffee could become harder to buy The U.S. is the world's largest importer of coffee, according to the USDA. About 80% of U.S. roasted imports come from Latin America, with more than 60% coming from just two countries — Brazil and Colombia, the agency said. Brazil and Colombia are both on the White House's chart, and they were both hit with 10% reciprocal tariffs. Imported alcohol market 'likely to be clobbered' Lempert said the imported alcohol market is likely "to be clobbered" due to the tariffs, according to NPR. According to USDA, the top import sources for wine include the European Union (France, Italy and Spain), New Zealand and Australia. The European countries were hit with 20% reciprocal tariffs, while New Zealand and Australia received 10% tariffs. The U.S. imports most of its beer from Mexico and Canada, as well as the Netherlands and Ireland, which were both hit with 20% tariffs. Lempert added that beer sold in cans will also get doubly impacted due to tariffs on China and other aluminum producers. Olive oil prices could skyrocket European Union, particularly Spain, Italy and Greece, are the top import sources for olive oil. "Olive oil prices have gone through the roof," Lempert said, per NPR. "They're going to go even higher." Certain cheeses imported from the European Union, especially Italy, France, Spain and the Netherlands, could see a price increase. Parmigiano-Reggiano, brie and Gouda are a few cheeses that may become costly. What grocery items may not increase in cost? Some grocery items that may not increase much, primarily because due to them being domestically produced, include beef and rice. While both these goods could remain relatively the same, they could raise a tad bit. Although 90% of beef consumed in the U.S. is domestically produced, tariffs could add to existing price increases that have raised costs to historic highs, and according to the USDA, the U.S. cattle herd is the smallest it's been since 1951. Like beef, rice sold in the U.S. is domestically produced, but nearly a third is imported, primarily jasmine rice from Thailand and basmati rice from India, the USDA states. Thailand and India are both on the White House chart. Contributing: James Powel, Rachel Barber & Lori Comstock/ USA TODAY
