Domestic Food Assistance Reached Record Levels

IFederal food assistance programs, which are designed to improve the nutritional status of low-income people and other target groups such as the elderly, are growing. Types of assistance include food stamps, vouchers, food packages, and cash. The Federal Government spent a record $28.9 billion in fiscal 1991 for domestic food and nutrition programs, 16 percent above the $25 billion spent in 1990. The increase was almost entirely due to higher participation and costs of the Food Stamp Program— the largest Federal food assistance program. The increase in the program's costs accounted for over three-fourths of the total increase in all food assistance program costs. Other programs have increased, but not as fast. A weakened economy from the recession, in which unemployment rates grew from 5.3 percent in fiscal 1989 to 6.4 in fiscal 1991, factored into the increases. Recipients received $27 billion in assistance in fiscal 1991 and $23 billion in 1990 (table 1). Preliminary figures indicate that participation and costs will continue rising until the economy turns around (table 1).