Fed Research Shows More Americans Skipping Meals

A Sharp Rise in Households Without Enough Food

The share of American households that say they don’t have enough food has risen sharply in recent years, according to new research from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York reported by CNN. In a February 2026 survey, 10% of households reported not having enough food - up from 4% in June 2020. Researchers described the increase as “remarkable.”

Who Produced the Data

The figures come from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, one of the regional banks within the U.S. central banking system, CNN reported. That sourcing matters: the data is drawn from the Fed’s ongoing surveys of household conditions rather than from advocacy groups, giving the trend an institutional, economy-wide vantage point. The comparison between June 2020 and February 2026 frames the change clearly.

What the Numbers Describe

A jump from 4% to 10% means the share of households reporting insufficient food has more than doubled in under six years. The research situates that rise within broader measures of economic sentiment, connecting food hardship to the wider pressure households report feeling. The figure is a measure of self-reported food adequacy, a direct signal of how families are experiencing their budgets.

Why It Stands Out

Food adequacy is one of the more basic indicators of household stability, which is part of why a doubling draws attention. The increase has unfolded alongside years of elevated prices for essentials, and the Fed’s framing of it as “remarkable” reflects how quickly the measure moved. It offers a concrete data point beneath more general conversations about cost of living.

The Grounded Takeaway

The research does not assign a single cause, but it documents a clear, measurable shift in how many households say they cannot consistently afford enough food. As CNN reported, the New York Fed’s findings tie that rise to broader economic sentiment, making it a useful benchmark for understanding strain at the household level. The number - 4% to 10% - gives a precise shape to a pressure many Americans describe in less specific terms.

References: CNN Business - New Fed report warns of ‘remarkable’ increase in households skipping meals due to food costs