DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) - A new US Department of Agriculture study finds US food prices increased by 25% from 2019 to 2023, with 5% of that change happening between 2022 and 2023. 

Residents, business owners, and non-profits all say they are feeling the impacts of these rising costs. 

"It's unbelievable how much everything has gone up, especially meat," said South Shores resident Sandy Grove. "Looking at your bill, its taking a lot more out of your budget every week, especially since I'm retired." 

PT's Barbecue owner Lavell Johnson said he's had to adjust the way he shops for his home and his restaurant. He says he has had to be really careful with his home grocery budget and make sure he makes the food stretch. This has applied to the restaurant as well. 

"We hadn't raised our prices in many, many years and we were finally forced to because the cost of everything has skyrocketed," said Johnson. "The meat has skyrocketed maybe the most, like rib tips used to be $35, now they are 70-75 dollars for a case so it's really hard to compete sometimes." 

According to Feeding America, an average of 13% on Central Illinoisans are struggling with food insecurity. Northeast Community Fund has started to see an increase in people stopping by their food pantry to fill the gaps left behind by rising prices. 

"We have 500 individuals a month more than this time last year," said Sharon Bunch, Assistant Director of Northeast Community Fund. "So we are seeing 165-215 individuals a day, four days a week." 

Food pantry recipients can shop twice a month, so Northeast Community Fund is hoping it can help fill in the gaps for people struggling to make ends meet. Bunch says so far they've been able to keep up with the increase in need, but are relying more on food drives and individual donations then they have previously. For more information on Northeast Community Fund and their food pantry, click here. 

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