The Effects Of Income Level and The Prıce Changes On The Food Purchasıng

Abstract

This study examined the effects of income level and of the price changes on the food purchases of the families. The families are grouped as high, middle and low income levels. 69 % of the families examined by the study belong to the low income group. This study shows th a t as income level per member of the family increases, the ra te of money allocation for food also increases accordingly. However, as the income level of the families decreases, the average number of children in the family increases. Among the various groups of food, the families use the cereals most. In the case of meat, the high income families buy meat more than their necessary requirements, vvhile the low income families buy less than the required level. Considering the eating habits of low income families which ise mostly the cereals, this group becomes the most effected group by the change of the food prices. Throughout the study 22 % price rise has been observed in general. W ith 38 % the highest price rise is seen on the cereals group; with —5 % lowest price is seen on the fruits. Ho\vever, this is to a great extent due to the characteristics of the seasons through which the study has been c arried out. The beginning of the study coincides the season (fall)in which the fru it harvesting takes place. So th a t the variety as well as the quantity of the fruits are the highest. Therefore this fact should be taken into consideration interpreting the results in general.