The protein foods households cut first
43%
43% identified beef protein as their main reduction — the most common answer.
n = 3,042 U.S. households · Fielded 2026 · Cherry Data Signals
Breakdown
beef43%
fish or seafood10%
chicken or turkey8%
pork7%
eggs5%
nuts or seeds3%
dairy3%
0%50%100%
Methodology
- Sample
- 3,042
- Population
- U.S. households
- Country
- United States
- Fielded
- 2026
- Research by
- Cherry Data Signals
- Study
- How Grocery Prices Are Changing Protein Shopping
Cite this statistic
Cherry Data Signals (2026). "The protein foods households cut first" Survey of 3,042 U.S. households, United States. https://cherrysignals.com/statistics/the-protein-foods-households-cut-first
Free to reproduce with attribution to Cherry Data Signals and a link to this page.
Related statistics
- Reduced the amount or type of protein-rich foods purchased because of higher grocery prices over the preceding 12 months62%
- Households that cut protein purchases, by state82%
- Replaced beef with a cheaper protein such as beans or lentils47%
- Meal without meat or fish at least twice weekly specifically to save money51%
- Meat-free meals eaten to save money28%
- Eaten less or skipped protein so children or another household member could have more58%
- The main budget protein fallbacks24%
- No regular budget protein fallback24%
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