USDA Plans Food Price Study for Alaska, Hawaii, and Territories
Published Date: 4/9/2026
Notice
Summary
The USDA wants to collect new food price data from Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories like Puerto Rico and Guam to better understand the cost of healthy eating there. This info will help improve nutrition policies like the Thrifty Food Plan, which guides food assistance programs. They’re asking for public comments by June 8, 2026, to make sure this study is useful and accurate—no big costs for you, just your thoughts!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Time burden on retailers and agencies
The study will contact 753 businesses and estimates a total of 1,299 respondents and 4,096 annual responses. USDA estimates 0.44 hours per response on average and a total annual respondent burden of 2,056.2 hours for participating State/local staff, retailers, and nonprofit staff.
New food price study in territories
USDA will collect food price data in seven non‑contiguous States and U.S. Territories — Alaska, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands — to fill gaps in existing data. The study’s results will be used to inform cost adjustments to the Thrifty Food Plan, which estimates the cost of a healthy diet.
Some participants receive honoraria
The notice states that 122 participating organizations will complete paperwork required to receive an honoraria for participation in the study. This means some retailers or organizations that participate will be eligible for payment paperwork related to the study.
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