Food Markets & Prices

• Consumer and Producer Price Indexes
  The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food measures changes in the retail prices of food items and is the principal indicator of changes in retail food prices. The Producer Price Index (PPI) for food measures changes in prices paid to domestic producers for their output and is a natural extension of ERS's work with the CPI for food. ERS regularly updates food price forecasts for the short-term period.
• Food Prices, Expenditures & Costs
  ERS develops and monitors indicators of individual, household, and market-level food consumption, prices, expenditures, food marketing costs, and farm-to-retail price spreads. ERS has acquired commercial scanner data from market research firm IRI for use in food economics research.
• Food Service Industry
  ERS research examines the size of the foodservice market, major market segments, and recent issues related to the foodservice industry.
• Local Foods
  ERS research on local food systems explores alternative definitions of local food, estimates market size and reach, describes the characteristics of local consumers and producers, and examines economic and health impacts of local food systems.
• Processing & Marketing
  ERS monitors key developments and trends across the U.S. food marketing system.
• Retailing & Wholesaling
  ERS research on trends and developments in wholesale sales and in traditional and nontraditional retail food stores.