Marketplace Morning Report SNAP is "a really important, invisible piece" of the economy
Oct 30, 2025
Samantha Fields, an insightful Marketplace reporter specializing in economic policy and social safety-net programs, delves into the critical implications of potential delays in SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans. She highlights how SNAP's $8 billion monthly spending not only aids families but also propels local businesses by generating jobs and wages. The discussion also reveals SNAP's impressive multiplier effect, which fuels over $1.50 in economic activity for every dollar spent. The potential ripple effects of these changes on the economy are profound.
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SNAP Is An Invisible Economic Engine
- SNAP spending of about $8 billion monthly fuels local businesses and communities.
- The program supports roughly 400,000 jobs and generates $20 billion in wages and over $4 billion in taxes.
SNAP Acts Like Targeted Stimulus
- SNAP functions like targeted stimulus that boosts local sales, especially in low-income and rural stores.
- Every SNAP dollar reportedly generates over $1.50 in economic activity, amplifying its reach.
Stores Rely Heavily On SNAP Sales
- Lily Roberts notes some stores get more than half their sales from SNAP, especially in poorer neighborhoods and rural areas.
- Stephanie Johnson warns that a benefits lapse could force reduced hours, perishable losses, and declining sales at small independents.