A report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York indicates a significant increase in food insecurity among U.S. households compared to 2020 levels.

紐約聯儲銀行的一份報告指出，與 2020 年水準相比，美國家庭的食物不安全情況顯著增加。

The Federal Reserve Bank of New York, utilizing data from its Survey of Consumer Expectations and Liberty Street Economics, has documented a rise in food insufficiency. Quantitative data reveals that 10% of households currently report missing meals, a figure that represents a substantial escalation from the 4% recorded in 2020. This trend is most pronounced among demographics with lower educational attainment and income levels; specifically, nearly 20% of households earning under $50,000 are experiencing meal deficits, compared to less than 7% in the 2020 baseline.

紐約聯儲銀行利用其「消費者預期調查」與「自由街經濟學」的數據，記錄了食物不足情況的上升。定量數據顯示，目前有 10% 的家庭報告有餐沒吃，這一數字較 2020 年記錄的 4% 顯著增加。這種趨勢在教育程度較低和收入水平較低的人群中最為明顯；具體而言，年收入低於 5 萬美元的家庭中，近 20% 正經歷飲食不足，而 2020 年的基準線則低於 7%。

External economic pressures have exacerbated this instability. The onset of conflict with Iran on February 28 precipitated a sharp increase in fuel costs, with average prices ascending from $2.92 per gallon in early February to $4.50 by early May. Institutional testimony from food bank administrators suggests that these escalating expenditures necessitate a reallocation of limited household funds, effectively reducing grocery budgets. Consequently, there has been a measurable increase in the utilization of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, rising from 10.6% to 18% overall, and from 22% to over 38% among lower-income cohorts.

外部經濟壓力加劇了這種不穩定性。2 月 28 日與伊朗爆發衝突，導致燃料成本急劇上升，平均價格從 2 月初的每加侖 2.92 美元升至 5 月初的 4.50 美元。食物銀行管理員的制度性證詞表明，這些不斷增加的支出迫使家庭重新分配有限的資金，實際上削減了雜貨預算。因此，補償營養援助計劃（SNAP）的利用率明顯增加，整體從 10.6% 上升至 18%，而低收入群體則從 22% 上升至 38% 以上。

These findings substantiate the hypothesis of a 'K-shaped' economic recovery. While high-income and college-educated households have benefited from augmented net wealth—driven by equity appreciation and mortgage reductions—lower-income populations are characterized by persistent financial hardship and economic uncertainty. This divergence is further evidenced by the operational expansion of community food banks to accommodate an increasing volume of dependents.

這些發現證實了「K型」經濟復甦的假設。雖然高收入和大學畢業的家庭受益於股權增值和抵押貸款減少而增加的淨財富，但低收入人群的特點是持續的財務困境和經濟不確定性。社區食物銀行為了容納日益增加的依賴人數而擴大運作，進一步證明了這種分歧。

Current data suggests that food insecurity has surpassed pandemic-era peaks, driven by inflationary pressures and systemic economic disparity.

目前的數據表明，在通貨膨脹壓力與系統性經濟差距的推動下，食物不安全情況已超過疫情時期的峰值。