September 29, 2026 | Press CallFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, September 29, 2026
PRESS CONTACT:
natalie@thekitchentableproject.org
NEW REPORT & POLL: Kitchen Table Project & Lael Brainard Release New Report and Polling on Rising Grocery Prices
Group unveils three concrete ways to reduce grocery costs by $1,000 per year
Brainard: “These plans are responsive to Americans on both sides of the aisle feeling this price squeeze.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Kitchen Table Project and former Director of the National Economic Council and Federal Reserve Vice Chair Lael Brainard are today unveiling a new report and new polling on the grocery price squeeze facing American families, including a policy roadmap that could save a typical family of four more than $1,000 a year at the grocery store. The findings of the new report confirm what The Kitchen Table Project has been hearing during its listening sessions across the country: The grocery store, more than any other place, is where Americans are most often feeling the cost of living squeeze.
The new analysis dives into the drivers of rising grocery prices and identifies three moves that together would deliver savings of roughly $1,000 per year for a family of four with a median income and moderate grocery bills.
End the Tariffs and Ensure the Savings Are Passed Through to Consumers → Savings of Over $320 a Year
Ensure Honest Prices & Stop the Corporate Pricing Games → Savings of Over $460 a Year
Launch an Affordable Groceries Partnership with Participating Grocers to Bring Costs Down on a Common Basket of Groceries → Savings of Over $315 a Year
“We're focusing on groceries because that's what Americans told us is their number one financial pressure they face in our Kitchen Table Project survey. In fact, Americans are twice as concerned about groceries as any other issue,” said Kitchen Table Project Chair Lael Brainard, speaking with reporters earlier today. “These plans are responsive to Americans on both sides of the aisle feeling this price squeeze, and pass the test families gave us: savings large enough that you actually notice them in your household budget. This isn’t one silver bullet: it’s using every lever available to make the grocery store work better for families.”
In addition to the three cost savings measures above, the Kitchen Table Project is recommending four additional "must-do’s" to build a fairer food system:
Restore SNAP: The One Big Beautiful Bill cut $186 billion from SNAP – and as a result SNAP participation fell by more than 5 million people between July 2025 and May 2026 – at a moment when Americans are feeling crushed by rising grocery prices. Restore SNAP.
Enforce the Rules Already on the Books: Use existing competition and price-discrimination laws to crack down on practices that drive up costs.
Back America’s Farmers and Ranchers: Help smaller producers compete, rebuild the cattle supply and get a fair price for what they produce.
Keep Our Food Supply Safe: Strengthen food safety and biosecurity to protect families, farmers and the food supply
The report also comes as the Kitchen Table Project and Global Strategy Group release a new poll on grocery shopping frustrations and behavior, which notes that three-in-four Americans shop for groceries weekly while 99 percent shop at least once a month. The survey found that shoppers are most likely to connect tariffs to higher grocery prices, though the war in Iran is breaking through as well. The vast majority of Americans (83%) say tariffs have increased grocery costs and 73% say the same about the war in Iran. Americans want immediate relief. Nearly half of Americans say seeing savings within six months matters most (49%) – more than twice as many as for the next highest priority.
The poll found that three-in-four (76%) Americans also say a plan would need to save a family of four at least $500 a year to be meaningful. There is very strong support among consumers for proposals to stop deceptive and discriminatory pricing and to end tariffs on groceries. Overall net support for these solutions ranges from +74 to +82 among Americans. Support for these solutions is bipartisan.
The Kitchen Table Project has also produced a short film that captures some of the conversations the group has had with Americans over the last several months, including the tradeoffs people are making, the ways they’re changing how they shop, and the frustration that even doing everything “right” still isn’t enough.
The report can be found here and the poll from GSG here. To request an interview or for additional questions, please email natalie@thekitchentableproject.org.
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The Kitchen Table Project develops research-driven policy ideas that address the everyday economic concerns facing American families. Through polling, listening sessions, and policy development, the organization focuses on solutions that provide meaningful relief, resonate with the public, minimize fiscal burden, and address the underlying drivers of rising costs.