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World Food Prices Stabilize in August, says FAO
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.
Global Food Prices Down, Still High
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.
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Food Prices Nearly Unchanged from February
The FAO Food Price Index for March averages 216 points, virtually unchanged from February's FPI at 215 points. Cereal prices also rose only one point. Low maize inventories and a strong soybean market caused a slight increase in maize prices, but sufficient wheat supplies kept that commodity's prices stable. Overall, only oils/fats prices showed strong growth due to a tightening of the expected 2011/2012 supply and demand balance.
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GIEWS Releases October Global Food Price Monitor
GIEWS has released the latest Global Food Price Monitor, citing a decline in the FAO Food Price Index for the third straight month. International grains prices fell in September, while the price of rice rose on the global market. Eastern Africa continues to experience cereal prices that are two to four times higher than they were this time last year.
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Why Food Price Volatility Matters
In a recent issue of Foreign Affairs , Christopher Barrett and Marc Bellemare write a stimulating note on the recent price movements in agricultural commodity markets. They appear to have three clear messages for policymakers:
First, price levels and price volatility are different concepts. In recent months, markets have been characterized by very high price levels, but volatility “although high these past few years, is not out of line with historical experience and is generally lower than it was in the 1970s.”