The Impact of Neighborhood Income on the Cost of Energy-Dense and Nutrient-Dense Foods in Supermarkets

Prices of 14 nutrient-dense and energy-dense food items were collected at full-service grocery stores in 2009. Using econometric models that included both supply and demand factors, analysis was conducted to determine whether income and demographic variables had differential impacts on the pricing of energy-dense versus nutrient-dense foods. Results showed that the store’s being part of a supercenter was the most important pricing determinant for both food types. All other independent variables were significant for only one to three food items. Very limited statistical evidence was found to support neighborhood per-household income having differential impacts on nutrient-dense versus energy-dense food pricing.