On January 1, Arkansas and Illinois became the latest states to join the trend of repealing or reducing sales taxes on groceries to ease the financial burden posed by food costs on shoppers. Now, nine U.S. states levy sales taxes on groceries at a full or reduced sales tax rate.
This trend is happening as food prices remain high across the country. According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average household now spends over $550 a month on groceries — a figure that continues to climb due to inflation.
