New York City grocers say their sales plummeted by as much as 25% last week due to the delay in food assistance benefits caused by the federal government shutdown. To avoid waste and ensure customers could still afford groceries, some stores ordered fewer items, lowered prices on perishable goods, and even paid out-of-pocket to help long-time customers buy food.
The government shutdown has left recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) without benefits for weeks, causing financial hardship for many low-income households. According to Gothamist, some grocery store managers described witnessing firsthand the struggles faced by SNAP recipients, including a disabled woman who was on the verge of tears after being unable to access her food.
New York state has now reissued food assistance benefits, but the disruption caused by the shutdown has left a trail of uncertainty and concern. Grocers are optimistic that sales will rebound once the benefits resume, but they're also aware that a new round of turmoil could arrive by March when recipients who fail to meet new work requirements may lose their benefits.
The last week-and-a-half was particularly difficult for grocery store owners, many of whom rely on SNAP purchases to make up more than half of their sales in low-income neighborhoods. Some stores noted that sales usually dip mid-month as customers exhaust their monthly benefits and have to pay out-of-pocket or can't afford any more groceries.
While the situation has now stabilized with the government reopened, concerns remain about the potential impact of a program overhaul signed by President Donald Trump this summer. The law added new employment requirements for SNAP recipients, which could lead to a 10% annual reduction in purchases and cut benefits for some recipients.
Grocers like C-Town's Cesar Diaz reported that sales increased significantly once SNAP benefits resumed, with thousands of dollars in additional revenue on the first day. However, many store owners are still grappling with the aftermath of the shutdown, including fears over immigration enforcement raids that have kept customers away and depressed sales since January.
"It's not just about not having food stamps; it's also about immigration," said Juan Jimenez, manager at Cherry Valley Marketplace in Elmhurst. "When there's a raid announced, people get scared and hide. It's affecting our business."
The government shutdown has left recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) without benefits for weeks, causing financial hardship for many low-income households. According to Gothamist, some grocery store managers described witnessing firsthand the struggles faced by SNAP recipients, including a disabled woman who was on the verge of tears after being unable to access her food.
New York state has now reissued food assistance benefits, but the disruption caused by the shutdown has left a trail of uncertainty and concern. Grocers are optimistic that sales will rebound once the benefits resume, but they're also aware that a new round of turmoil could arrive by March when recipients who fail to meet new work requirements may lose their benefits.
The last week-and-a-half was particularly difficult for grocery store owners, many of whom rely on SNAP purchases to make up more than half of their sales in low-income neighborhoods. Some stores noted that sales usually dip mid-month as customers exhaust their monthly benefits and have to pay out-of-pocket or can't afford any more groceries.
While the situation has now stabilized with the government reopened, concerns remain about the potential impact of a program overhaul signed by President Donald Trump this summer. The law added new employment requirements for SNAP recipients, which could lead to a 10% annual reduction in purchases and cut benefits for some recipients.
Grocers like C-Town's Cesar Diaz reported that sales increased significantly once SNAP benefits resumed, with thousands of dollars in additional revenue on the first day. However, many store owners are still grappling with the aftermath of the shutdown, including fears over immigration enforcement raids that have kept customers away and depressed sales since January.
"It's not just about not having food stamps; it's also about immigration," said Juan Jimenez, manager at Cherry Valley Marketplace in Elmhurst. "When there's a raid announced, people get scared and hide. It's affecting our business."
ugh, can u believe this? they're saying some stores had to cut back on sales by like 25% because of the gov shutdown! 
I remember back in my day... SNAP recipients were always a lifeline for these low-income neighborhoods, and now it's like they're living on thin air. It's not just about the money, dude; it's about people being able to access food without stressing about how they're gonna pay the bills. And now there's this new law that could cut benefits even further? 
it's like, what's next? 
gotta feel for the store owners who are basically running on empty just to keep customers happy 
meanwhile, it's not like the gov't was expecting people to just magically afford groceries without a safety net 
and btw, can we talk about how "helpful" it is that some stores are paying out-of-pocket to help customers? sounds like they're making up for the gov't's fail 
.
.
. I mean, can you imagine having to choose between paying your rent or buying groceries? It's just not fair 
. And it's not just the lack of money that's causing stress, but also the uncertainty and fear that comes with immigration raids 
. I've had friends who are immigrants themselves, and they can tell you how hard it is to navigate a system that seems designed to scare them off 
. It's time for some common sense and compassion 
!
the new work requirements for SNAP recipients might lead 2 a 10% reduction in purchases, & that's just another worry 4 low-income households. it's not just about food stamps, it's about immigration enforcement too...i feel 4 those store owners who r still grappin w/ the aftermath 
i just did it last night and it was SO much better than the instant stuff! i added some veggies and eggs to make it even heartier 
anyway, back to this news... 25% sales drop is crazy but i guess it's good that stores are taking care of their customers by lowering prices or paying out-of-pocket 
i'm just worried about all the people who lost access to food assistance benefits and now they have to deal with the uncertainty of not knowing when their next payment will come 
.