Rising grocery costs push Pennsylvania families into crisis
By Anna Gustafson for the Pennsylvania Independent . Broadcast version by Danielle Smith for Keystone State News Connection reporting for the Pennsylvania Independent-Public News Service Collaboration For Scranton resident Katie Ezdebski, trips to the grocery store look a lot different these days. Each shopping excursion takes far more preparation than in years past: What can she afford to buy? What meals won’t cost too much to make? Which stores have the best prices? Grocery costs are rising amid President Donald Trump’s tariffs and the war in Iran . Cash-strapped Pennsylvanians say surging prices are leaving their families reeling. “As far as how I shop, it’s led it to become much more involved as far as planning before you go to the store,” said Ezdebski, the mother of an 11th grader and the full-time caregiver for her husband, who has had several strokes and has early-onset dementia. “The process of making sure my budget’s going to fit what I need, and having that list and sticking to that list where, you know, three or four years ago I didn’t really do that as much.” Ezdebski was one of a group of Pennsylvanians who shared their experiences grappling with rising food costs
