Food Prices

Food Prices

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
At the start of this year Agriculture Department economists were forecasting that food prices at the grocery store would end up averaging one to two percent higher than a year ago. But over the last couple of months that forecast has been trimmed a little bit and here's the latest: "We're expecting 2019 prices to increase between half a percent and one and a half percent."

Usda food price economist Gianna Short says if this ends up being what happens it'll be the fourth year in a row in which food price inflation comes in lower than the 20 year average which is closer to 2 percent. She says we'll pay more for most food categories this year but there are a few that might cost us less than a year ago. "These include pork, other meat,, eggs, fats and oils and processed fruits and vegetables." Okay. That other meats category always puzzles me. What are other meats? "Other meats include frankfurters, lunch meat, lamb and organ meats." Organ meats? No not that kind of organ. You mean things like liver for example, correct? "Correct."

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