For families across Michigan’s Southwest Coast, a trip to the grocery store has become one of the most stressful parts of the week. In Allegan and Van Buren counties, as well as portions of Ottawa, Kalamazoo, Calhoun, and Berrien counties, most families here find that making ends meet has gotten measurably harder.
A typical Michigan household could pay up to $3,000 more this year for everyday expenses, with groceries among the categories families feel most acutely every week.
The pressure shows up at checkout across the district. Beef prices are up 18% from the beginning of 2025. Proteins have been hit especially hard: the average cost for two pounds of ground beef rose from $13.33 in 2025 to $14.06 this summer. In Michigan, households spend an average of $617 per month on groceries — and that number keeps climbing.
Tariffs are compounding the problem. An MSU food economist testified before Michigan lawmakers that policy decisions made in Washington quickly translate into higher costs for Michigan families, farmers, and food-related businesses.
The pain at the grocery store is compounded by what families pay to get there. Michigan drivers now go to Mobil and pay an average of $4.23 per gallon for regular unleaded — nearly a dollar more than this time last year. A full 15-gallon tank now costs about $63, a number that hits especially hard in a district where many residents commute long distances for work across rural Van Buren and Allegan counties. Economists estimate the average household will pay $857 more on gas in 2026 than they did last year — money that isn’t going toward groceries, rent, or savings.
More Than Just Your Gas Tank
Those gas prices don’t just drain wallets at the pump — they drive up costs throughout the food supply chain. Higher diesel prices raise the cost of transporting goods, which can show up as increased prices for groceries, household items, and even prescription deliveries. Higher energy prices affect nearly every step of the food supply chain: farmers use fuel to plant and harvest crops, food processors require large amounts of electricity and natural gas, and refrigerated trucks transport products to stores like Kroger and Walmart.
The strain is showing up at food pantries across the district. Feeding America West Michigan, which serves communities throughout southwest Michigan, reports that attendance at mobile food pantries is at record levels and is preparing for even higher demand as eligibility rules for federal food assistance tighten. In Calhoun County, the South Michigan Food Bank reports that one in six people in the region already struggle with hunger.
Federal policy decisions are compounding the crisis. SNAP helps more than 1.4 million low-income Michiganders put food on the table — but the One Big Beautiful Bill Act has put that lifeline at risk. Nationally, more than 4 million Americans have lost SNAP benefits since the law took effect. In Michigan, the changes are already hitting the state budget: federal food assistance changes are poised to increase costs for the state by nearly $100 million in the next fiscal year, squeezing resources that could otherwise support families in need.
When grocery bills spike, it isn’t just a budget inconvenience — it’s a threat to the basic stability families depend on. Families in southwest Michigan are working hard, but the continuous rise in prices is causing a daily struggle, making it even harder for these families to get what they need to survive.
