Data shows distressed Las Vegas shoppers buying more processed foods, low-cost staples

Pantry staples and easy meals are gaining popularity amid inflation and trade woes, grocery data shows

Many foods are seeing a decline in sales, but others are seeing a surprising spike in demand."When we look at the data for hamburger helpers specifically, we see that from June to August of this year, sales have increased about 14.5%, which is a big jump in a relatively short period of time," said Abby Hall, associate professor of economics at the University of Tampa.Similar increases in the just-add-meat meals were seen during the 2008 financia…

Data shows distressed Las Vegas shoppers buying more processed foods, low-cost staples

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- A spike in purchases of processed foods indicates consumers' need to stretch a dollar — and a pound of ground beef — more and more as uncertainty continues to impact the bottom line of shoppers throughout the Las Vegas valley. Two signs of the times illustrate this point. One, a report from the company that owns Hamburger Helper -- Eagle Foods -- says sales the boxed ground beef meal-builder are up 14.5%, according to publish…