How Grocery Clerks Are At The Center Of The Food Affordability Crisis
Grocery clerks and cashiers are facing the same food crisis as their customers. Prices are up 35% since 2019, while real wages lag far behind. Many shoppers break down at checkout when they realize they can’t afford essentials, and clerks themselves struggle to feed their families. With unit volumes falling and poverty rising, even the most basic categories, beef, eggs, milk, coffee have jumped 60%, pushing workers and communities into deeper insecurity.