Does average monthly grocery spending in Maine exceed $400 per person? | Fact brief

Average monthly grocery spending in Maine is more than $400 per person, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

The bureau tracks per-capita spending on various consumer goods and services in each state. It found Mainers spent $5,337 per person annually — or $444.75 per month — on groceries in 2024, the most recent year for which data is available.

The spending category is designated by the bureau as “food and beverages purchased for off-premises consumption.” It includes grocery and convenience store purchases but excludes purchases at restaurants, including takeout.

Maine’s per-capita grocery spending increased by 1.8% in 2024 from the previous year and has risen by 57% since 2014, according to the bureau. The data reflects individual spending and is not necessarily a measure of grocery prices.

Nationally, the highest per-capita monthly grocery bill in 2024 was $625.33, in the District of Columbia, while the lowest was $273.17 in Oklahoma.