Relationships of Food Costs, Expenditures, and Prices, 1960-74

Per capita expenditures for food for use at home leaped 86 percent between 1960 and 1974. Price increases were mainly responsible. Changes in household composition also contributed. Slightly moderating factors included small apparent declines in quantities consumed and shifts among foods consumed. Price movements between low-priced and high-priced foods are examined through the calculation of special price indexes. Time series measures, three consumer expenditure surveys, and the ARS food plans are discussed.