The Price of Food

The Price of Food by Meredith N. Fisher
Language: English | 2009 | ISBN: 1606924400 | 182 pages | PDF | 10 MB
U.S. food prices never seem to decline. Higher farm commodity prices and energy costs are the leading factors behind higher food prices. Farm commodity prices have surged because demand for corn for ethanol is competing with food and feed for acreage; global food grain and oilseed supplies are low due to poor harvests; the weak dollar has increased U.S. exports; rising incomes in large, rapidly emerging economies have changed eating habits; and input costs have increased. Higher energy costs increase transportation, processing, and retail costs. Although the cost of commodities such as corn or wheat are a small part of the final retail price of most food products, they have risen enough to have an impact on retail prices. Generally, price changes at the farm level have a diminished impact on retail prices, especially for highly processed products.