High inflationary levels keep consumer food spending largely at retail. 

Food inflation remains extremely high and consumers are feeling the pain. They are making changes to their restaurant engagement as well as their grocery purchases, according to the August IRI survey of primary grocery shoppers.

Despite some consumers pointing to planning to eat out less often to save money during these inflationary times, 80% of consumers have ordered from or eaten at a restaurant in the past few weeks.

The height, the widespread nature and the continued acceleration of inflation dominated the U.S. headlines in May. Whether in the grocery store, at the pump or at the movies, consumers were paying more. But the focus on inflation is not limited to the media headlines. According to the May edition of the IRI monthly survey of primary shoppers, Americans are ultra-aware and many are applying lessons learned during the Great Recession to tighten spending.