Here's Where To Find The Cheapest Groceries In VA, New Study Says

With the high cost of groceries, many people are looking for a deal. Keeping that in mind, NetCredit analyzed prices at over 2,000 grocery stores across the United States.

After examining prices at 136 supermarket chains, NetCredit found that most of the affordable supermarket across 15 states is Target.

But that's not the case in Virginia. The cheapest groceries in the state can be found at Food Lion, according to NetCredit. Food Lion's offerings are 23.5 percent less than the state average. Target and Wegman's follow, with 6.3 percent and 5.2 percent below-average prices, respectively.

Comparatively, Harris Teeter's rapid delivery option is the least affordable, at 26.3 percent higher than the state average, followed by Publix at 5.2 percent, NetCredit found.

In Virginia, there are 275 Food Lion stores scattered across the state.

To determine which grocery stores are most affordable, NetCredit created a list of items from major brands to compare at each store and built a list of 145 cities — including the top 100 most populous across the country. Researchers used Instacart.com to source prices by inputting an address in the most populous zip code per state and city and seeing which grocery stores delivered there.

"Comparing the average prices of the branded items to the average across all chains in each state/city allowed us to calculate the price premiums," the study states.

Nationwide, grocery prices rose 3 percent over the last year, the latest Consumer Price Index report shows.

Axios reports that food staples such as coffee have increased 13.4 percent since last June as climate change and other factors decrease predictability in food costs. The price of uncooked ground beef is up 10.3 percent over the last year, Axios said.

NetCredit's analysis also includes advice on saving money on groceries:

1. Use the store’s loyalty program to accumulate points and access discounts.
2. Make a list and stick to it — don’t get distracted by special offers on non-essentials.
3. Go alone and when it’s quiet. Hungry children and bustling aisles can entice you to make deviations from your shopping list.
4. Buy the store’s own branded version of goods unless you are certain the branded version offers proven nutritional benefits.
5. Buy in-season produce. Fruit and veg that are in season tend to be both healthier and cheaper.
6. Stores tend to reduce near-to-expiry goods at regular times of the day or week. Figure out when your local store clerk goes around with the price reduction stickers — if you shop with the idea of putting together meals from what’s reduced, it’s the one exception to sticking to your list.

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