The FAO Food Price Index continues to show a slow upward trend for the third consecutive month.
From a statement issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization:
The FAO Food Price Index (FFPI) averaged 151.8 points in April 2016, up 1.1 points (0.7 percent) from March, but almost 10 percent below its April 2015 level. A relatively strong rise in vegetable oil quotations coupled with a more modest gain in international prices of cereals more than offset a decline in dairy and sugar prices. The small increase in April represented a third month of gradual rise in the value of the FFPI.
The FAO food price index rose slightly in March due to sharp increases in prices of sugar and palm oil.
From a press release by the Food and Agriculture Organization:
The FAO Food Price Index* (FFPI) averaged 151.0 points in March 2016, up 1.0 percent from February, but almost 21 points (12.0 percent) below its March 2015 level. The main feature last month was the strong rebound in sugar prices, which, combined with a further increase in vegetable oil quotations, more than offset a plunge in dairy values. International prices of the other commodities used in the calculation of the FFPI changed little.
The FAO Food Price Index averaged 150.2 points in February 2016, nearly unchanged from January, but 14.5% below February 2015.
From a statement issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization:
The FAO Food Price Index* (FFPI) averaged 150.2 points in February 2016, nearly unchanged from January, but 25.6 points (14.5 percent) below February 2015. The most outstanding development last month was a surge in vegetable oil quotations, which, along with a small recovery in meat prices, more than offset declining cereal, sugar and dairy prices.
In June prices of sugar and dairy products fell sharply, meat remained stable, while cereals and oils showed improvement.
The FAO Food Price Index* averaged 165.1 points in June 2015, down 1.5 points (0.9 percent) from the previous month and almost 44 points (21.0 percent) down from June 2014. Price movements diverged across the various markets, with sugar and milk products incurring pronounced falls, while cereals and oils prices firmed somewhat. Meat prices were stable. Except for a lull in October 2014, the overall food price index has declined every month since April 2014.
Three months after having dropped in July 2012 the FAO index of food prices rose by 6%, driven by cereals and sugar.
A statement from the United Nations Organization for Food and Agriculture FAO) reads:
August 9, 2012, Rome - The FAO index of food prices rose by 6 percent in July 2012, after three months of declines.
The Index, which measures monthly changes in international prices of a basket of commodities, stood at an average of 213 points in July, 12 points above the June level. However, it was still well below the maximum of 238 points reached in February 2011.
The FAO has warned that the increases in corn prices may affect food security in Central America and Mexico.
Grain prices in the region have soared over the last year. Between June 2010 and June 2011, the wholesale price of white maize increased by 56% in Guatemala, 112% in El Salvador and 65% in Mexico.
These increases have had a strong impact on the staple foods: The average food inflation in the region was between 7% and 8% between April and June.