More than three-fourths of Americans view fast food as luxury, survey shows

WASHINGTON (TND) — More than three-fourths of Americans view fast food as a luxury, according to a LendingTree survey published last week.

The survey found 78% of consumers cited increasingly high prices of fast food items for their assessment. Limited service meals rose 4.8% over the past year in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) released earlier this month.

Half of Americans also viewed fast food as a luxury due to their financial struggles, with 71% of those consumers making less than $30,000 per year, according to the survey. The CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers increased 3.4% over the last year.

Inflation has been a primary issue for Americans as the presidential election approaches, with a recent Pew Research Center poll showing 41% of respondents picked a high cost of living as their most important financial problem. The Biden administration has argued it has made progress with curbing inflation, with White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre telling reporters earlier this month President Joe Biden has made high living costs his economic priority.

“When it comes to our priority as it relates to the economy, we want to make sure that we’re fighting inflation and continue to do so,” Jean-Pierre said. “We understand we have a lot more work to do. We get that.”

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The press secretary pointed to purported lower grocery prices over the last three months as evidence for the administration’s progress.

More than 50% of Americans said their go-to route for an easy and inexpensive meal is making food at home, according to the LendingTree survey. Meanwhile, three-fourths of the respondents said fast food isn’t cheaper than eating a home-cooked meal.

Jean-Pierre argued Republicans have focused on helping wealthier Americans at the expense of the struggling. The GOP has tried to decrease funding for Social Security and Medicaid while supporting tax breaks for billionaires, according to the press secretary.

In February, Rep. Jason Smith, R-Mo., echoed Republican sentiment that high inflation rates at the beginning of Biden’s term were cause for concern for voters.

“A nearly 18% rise in prices since Joe Biden took office is one of the many reasons the American people are not buying the Democrats’ out-of-touch sales pitch on the economy,” Rep. Smith claimed. “The fact that core inflation remains higher than the topline number is more evidence that ongoing sticker shock is in store for families.”

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