ConAgra Food Survey Finds: Recession Not Over Say 79 Percent of Consumers

FoodProcessing.com
05/18/2010

A new survey released by ConAgra Foods shows that despite the ease on economic conditions, 79 percent of Americans say they do not feel like the recession is over; 71 percent say they will continue the savings habits they developed during the economic downturn.

The survey shows that the recession continues to impact the way people shop for and prepare food. The survey also indicates of those who made changes to their food shopping or preparation habits, most of those changes will continue into the coming year.

• In the past year, 75 percent of Americans have cooked more meals at home and they say they will continue to do so. Two-thirds (68%) say cooking has brought their family together and three-in-five (61%) say they enjoy cooking more.
• Four-in-five (79%) say they will continue to focus on saving by using coupons, store specials or a budget, and two-thirds (63%) will continue to cut back on premium purchases.
• Two-thirds (67%) of those surveyed say they have enjoyed becoming more of a bargain hunter.
• Half (49%) of those already making cutbacks will freeze more meals, and two-in-five (38%) will continue to stretch meals.
• About one-third of consumers have sought to save money by stretching out meals with water or canned foods, or by buying more frozen or prepared meals.

Survey Methodology: The ConAgra report presents the findings of a telephone survey conducted among a national probability sample of 1,018 adults comprising 509 men and 509 women 18 years of age and older, living in private households in the continental United States. Interviewing for this CARAVAN(R) Survey was completed during the period March 26-29, 2010. Results have a margin of error of +/-3%.