Objective: This study aimed to examine the changes in food expenditure according to household size and income levels during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.Methods: We analyzed the annual data from the Survey of Household Economy conducted by the Statistics Bureau. The data on households were divided into two income levels: < 2,000,000 and ≥ 6,000,000 yen. Households' basic characteristics, overall expenditure, and food expenditure (home cooking, confectionaries and beverages, prepared meals, and dining out) were examined. Four household categories based on household size (single-or multiple-person household) as well as income levels were compared to examine the changes in food expenditure between the pre-pandemic period (average of 2018 and 2019) and 2021.Results: At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, expenditure on dining out declined in all the four household categories. The largest decline was observed among single-person households with a household income of ≥ 6,000,000 yen. In all categories, expenditure on home cooking increased in 2020; however, it decreased in 2021. Among single-person households with a household income of < 2,000,000 yen and multiple-person households with a household income of ≥ 6,000,000 yen, expenditure on prepared meals increased in both 2020 and 2021.
Conclusion:Irrespective of the household category, expenditure on home cooking increased in 2020 relative to that in the pre-pandemic period; however, the increase was not maintained until 2021.Moreover, a simplification of meals, such as using prepared meals, was noted. These changes varied according to household size and income level.