Rising Grocery Costs Push Americans Back To Budget-Friendly StaplesRising Grocery Costs Push Americans Back To Budget-Friendly StaplesBags on display in an Aldi grocery store in New York City, U.S. June 17, 2026. REUTERS/Vincent AlbanA new survey of 2,000 Americans finds grocery budget pressures are dramatically changing how people shop and cook. Nearly a third (31%) say they cook at home more than a year ago. More than half of respondents (60%) reported that they build their weekly meal plans around ingredient overlap. Potatoes ranked as the most versatile staple ingredient (40%), with 48% viewing them more positively than a year ago.