June 01, 2001 (The Editor’s Desk is updated each business day.)

Food inflation accelerates in 2000

Consumer food prices increased 2.8 percent in 2000, following a 1.9-percent increase during the previous year. Higher inflation for bread, pork, beef, and fresh vegetables offset deflation for dairy products and lower inflation for fresh fruits.

Annual percent change in the Consumer Price Index for food, 1991-2000
[Chart data—TXT]

Bread prices rose 4.6 percent in 2000, compared with 2.0 percent in 1999.  Pork charges increased 5.8 percent, after rising 3.1 percent in 1999; hog and pig inventories were in short supply. Beef and veal prices rose 5.5 percent, following a 4.4-percent rise during 1999. Fresh vegetable charges were up 12.2 percent in 2000; during 1999, prices of fresh vegetables had risen by only 0.8 percent.

Dairy products prices declined 0.4 percent, after increasing 2.9 percent in 1999. The fresh fruits index increased just 0.8 percent in 2000, after increasing 3.2 percent in 1999.

These data are from the BLS Consumer Price Index program. For additional information, see "Consumer inflation higher in 2000" by Todd Wilson, Monthly Labor Review, April 2001. Annual changes are December-to-December changes.

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