Tennesseans say they feel the pinch at grocery store, hopes Legislators’ Town Hall will help

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Veronica Falls is one of many shoppers who took her weekly grocery trip on Monday afternoon.

Like many, Falls has been dealing with the rising cost of food.

“These food prices are killing me,” Falls said. “I spent like $89 on my bill for today.”

Falls, who shops for herself, told us how she got to that total.

“Even bread you buy a loaf of bread they had the Sara Lee honey wheat bread on sale today for $2.44 normally it’s like $4 and something,” Falls said. “So, I said let me go ahead and get two loaves.”

She said with the high prices, she’s had to change the way she eats.

“I like ox tails [but they’re] so expensive I can’t even buy them anymore,” Falls said.

Falls is just one of many shoppers who have said something needs to be done.

“It’s ridiculous,” Falls said. “When I was growing up you used to wonder why old people have to choose between buying their medications or some food to eat.”

Some lawmakers are trying to change that. Sen. Charlane Oliver and Rep. John Ray Clemmons will be at a legislators’ town hall to discuss plans to lower the cost of living. One of the topics includes eliminating the state’s grocery tax.

The meeting will be held on Wednesday at 6 p.m. in room two of the Southeast Community Center in Antioch.

Falls said eliminating the tax would be nice, but the prices need to drop.

“I feel like I would have 20 bags of groceries 10 years ago,” Falls said. “I would have so much more food.”

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