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A More Detailed Food Dollar: Enhanced Accounting of U.S. Food Costs

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  • Baker, Quinton
  • Zachary, James Chandler

Abstract

For decades, the USDA, Economic Research Serviceʼs (ERS) Food Dollar has measured the costs of producing and marketing food from the farm to the final point of sale. These measures have come to be known as the farm share and the marketing share of the Food Dollar. In 2011, industry group shares were introduced, which measure the distribution of costs across supply chain industries, also in terms of consumer food expenditures. Methodological and data source quality improvements have led to historical revisions of the Food Dollar. These revisions provide a more detailed accounting of the U.S. food system and variation in farm, marketing, and supply chain costs over time and across products and outlets. This report highlights major differences in the Food Dollar from the change in the underlying model from 2011 to the new model used for 2026 and the impact of these modeling changes on estimated value shares.

Suggested Citation

  • Baker, Quinton & Zachary, James Chandler, 2026. "A More Detailed Food Dollar: Enhanced Accounting of U.S. Food Costs," Economic Research Report 396236, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    • Handle: RePEc:ags:uersrr:396236
    DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.396236
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Canning, Patrick, "undated". "A Revised and Expanded Food Dollar Series: A Better Understanding of Our Food Costs," Economic Research Report 262243, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
    2. Christopher B. Barrett & Thomas Reardon & Johan Swinnen & David Zilberman, 2022. "Agri-food Value Chain Revolutions in Low- and Middle-Income Countries," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 60(4), pages 1316-1377, December.
    3. Rehkamp, Sarah & Canning, Patrick, 2018. "Measuring Embodied Blue Water in American Diets: An EIO Supply Chain Approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 179-188.
    4. Gale, Hazen F., 1967. "The Farm Food Marketing Bill and Its Components," Agricultural Economic Reports 307320, United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
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