Sponsors (9)
The bill mandates a GAO study of 20 years of CPI 'food at home' trends that could help lower household food costs and improve policy decisions, but it may also lead to regulatory or compliance pressures on businesses and uses GAO resources that could be diverted from other oversight work.
Low-income households and middle-class families could see lower 'food at home' costs if GAO's evidence-based recommendations lead to policy or market changes.
Congress (and state policymakers) will receive a 180-day GAO analysis of 20 years of CPI 'food at home' trends, giving lawmakers better evidence to inform food-price and related policy decisions.
Food producers and retailers — and indirectly middle-class families and small-business owners — could face new regulations or compliance costs if the study's findings prompt policy changes, which may raise prices or burdens on businesses.
GAO staff time and resources will be used to complete the 180-day study, potentially diverting oversight capacity from other issues and imposing opportunity costs for taxpayers.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Directs the Comptroller General to study 20 years of 'food at home' CPI changes and related economic metrics and report findings and recommendations to three congressional committees within 180 days.
Introduced January 31, 2025 by Patrick Ryan · Last progress January 31, 2025
Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to study changes in the Consumer Price Index for "food at home" covering the 20 years ending on the date of enactment, including other relevant economic metrics as needed, and to deliver findings and recommendations to specified congressional committees within 180 days of enactment. Also establishes a short title for the Act. The study is aimed at giving Congress an evidence base about grocery/food-at-home price trends and potential policy responses; it does not itself change programs or authorize new spending.