Commissary customers closed 2006 with record-breaking savings.

According to Patrick Nixon, Defense Commissary Agency director and chief executive officer the average customer savings for a family of four have risen to nearly $3,000 annually.

Savings have actually been holding steady at about 32% for several years.

DeCA has not revised its savings messages for more than a year, but using current U.S. Department of Agriculture figures for retail grocery food purchases consumed at home, a family of four shopping at the commissary on a regular basis can save $2,957 annually on groceries.

The figure formerly used was $2,700. Under the latest calculations, couples can save $1,885, and individuals can save $1,029 by shopping regularly at their commissary.