As the federal government shutdown threatens to halt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on 1 November, new data from Numerator highlights how the pause could impact retailers and consumers alike.
SNAP recipients spend an average of $832 per month on groceries, about 20% more than non-SNAP shoppers, according to the report. They visit an average of 6.6 retailers monthly and spend $20.80 per grocery trip, which is 12% less per trip than non-SNAP households.
Over the 12 months ending 30 September 2025, Walmart captured 26.1% of SNAP shoppers’ annual grocery spend, with the average SNAP household spending $2,653 annually at the retailer.
Nearly 94% of SNAP shoppers visited Walmart, followed by Target (58.2%), Amazon (52.4%), Dollar General (51.7%), and Kroger (48.8%).
SNAP-funded grocery trips made up 3.6% of all in-store grocery visits as of September, with traditional grocers gaining share, 39.2% of in-store SNAP trips, up from 38% a year earlier.
Consumers have shifted spending away from dollar, drug, and convenience channels toward mass and club retailers.
States with the highest share of grocery trips using SNAP or WIC benefits so far in 2025 include New Mexico (7.2%), California (6.6%), Massachusetts (6.6%), Oregon (6.4%), Nevada (5.4%), and Hawaii (5.4%).
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