Blog Post

Surging Food Prices Could Stall Asian Economic Growth

The Asian Development Bank released a report this week suggesting that rising world food prices could drive 64 million people into poverty in the region and reduce economic growth by as much as 1.5 percentage points. Surging oil prices, declining grain stocks, increased demand for biofuels, and production shortfalls due to negative climatic events have all combined to increase both domestic and international food prices. This rise in the cost of food presents a serious challenge to the region's economic recovery and growth. Poor families are particularly hard hit, as they can spend up to 60 percent of their income on food.

Read the full report. For more information, visit the Asian Development Bank