Most Americans don't buy food at dollar stores
Core finding
More than four-in-ten Americans (44%) say they don't buy food from dollar stores at all, according to a November 2025 Verasight survey.
Among the reasons for buying, picking up food on a non-food trip tops the list: 17% say they typically go to the dollar store for other items and grab some food while there. Similar shares say they need food quickly and the store is convenient (16%) or that it has better deals (15%), while few call it their go-to grocery destination (3%), say the package size fits their needs (3%) or give another reason (2%).
Topline distribution
Most Americans don't buy food at dollar stores.
What's your main reason for buying food from dollar stores?
n = 1,000 · Nov 14–20, 2025 · MoE ±3.2%
Methodology
Full methodology →| Mode | Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting |
|---|---|
| Population | US adults age 18+ |
| Field dates | Nov 14–20, 2025 |
| Base (unweighted) | 1,000 |
| Margin of error | ±3.2% |
| Module | Module 3 |
| Sponsor | Verasight |
| Weight variable | weight |
| Weighting targets | age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status |
Sources
- reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025
What's your main reason for buying food from dollar stores?
Cite this question
Verasight APHA Omnibus Survey #2025-148, fielded November 14-20, 2025, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.2%.