FAO Food Price Index

The latest FAO Food Price Index averaged 209 points in December, down 2 points from November and the lowest level seen since June 2012. The drop is due mainly to declines in grains and oils/fats. Overall, global food prices in 2012 were 7 percent lower than in 2011.

Cereal prices dropped 6 points in December, led by weaker demand for feed grain and larger maize exports from South America. Rice prices also dipped due to expectations of a good harvest.

The FAO released today its Food Price Index for November. The Index fell slightly in October to 213 points, largely due to lower international prices for cereals, oils, and fats. The report also finds that for the first 10 months of 2012, international food prices were on average eight percent lower than during the same period in 2011.

FAO released the latest Food Price Index today. The report cites slightly higher food prices in September, averaging 216 points. The increase was based mostly on the meat and dairy sectors, with smaller increases in grains. The Index is currently 22 points below its peak of 238 points in February 2011, and nine points below its level of 225 points in September 2011.

FAO has released its Food Price Index for August, citing stabilizing world food prices. The Food Price Index has remained steady since July at 213 points. The report points out that while this level is high, it is still 25 points below the peak seen in February 2011.

The FAO Global Food Price Index averaged 214 points in April, down 3 points from the previous month. Cereals prices aided this decline with a drop of nearly 2 percent from March and 16 percent from April 2011. Maize prices declined on solid production prospects, while wheat and rice prices also fell marginally. Soybean prices, on the other hand, surged on fears of tightening global supplies.

View the full report