The Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability launches a new tool that tracks the average cost of a cheeseburger and the cost of each ingredient of the cheeseburger over time. The National Cost of a Cheeseburger Dashboard features the average cost of a cheeseburger over time, the cost of each ingredient of the cheeseburger over time and the inflation-adjusted cost of a cheeseburger over time, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

This dashboard provides the average cost of a cheeseburger over time, the cost of each ingredient of the cheeseburger over time and the inflation-adjusted cost of a cheeseburger over time, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In this edition, we explore the last three years of CFI data disaggregated by U.S. Census region: (1) Northeast, (2) Midwest, (3) South and (4) West. Additional questions this month measure consumer perceptions of seed oils, which have come into the spotlight in recent months.

New questions this month explore consumer experiences with food prices and home food production. How do consumers describe current grocery prices? How are they adapting? Are they producing their own food? The report also includes urban-rural classification as part of its demographic analysis this month.

This month, the Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability introduces a new tool that measures national diet quality on a monthly basis. Purdue's American Diet Quality Index provides near-real time information about adult consumers' diets and, combined with our other research efforts, will give insight into how diet quality interacts with the broader food system, consumer behavior and economic conditions.

This assessment tool estimates diet quality based on a short survey that elicits consumption frequency for nine food types: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, refined grains, fish or seafood, legumes/nuts/seeds, low‐fat dairy, high‐fat dairy, and sweets.

New questions this month explore consumer perceptions of processed foods. Do they know what they are? Are people concerned about their healthfulness? Why do they think people might choose them over unprocessed or minimally processed alternatives?

The new Consumer Food Insights results from Purdue University shows stress levels due to grocery prices are mixed, and most consumers are at least somewhat familiar with the concept of tariffs.

The debate over plant-based versus traditional meat consumption is growing louder as consumers, producers and policymakers grapple with sustainability and dietary shifts. While entirely plant-based meat alternatives have captured headlines, hybrid meat products —blending plant-based proteins with traditional meat — might offer a compelling middle ground.

The new Consumer Food Insights results from Purdue University focus on consumer trends in 2024 and ahead to consumer diets and plans for 2025.