The cost of a basket of 16 staple food items will cost consumers a bit more in 2018, with the price increasing 2% to about $51.05, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation's (AFBF) Spring Picnic Marketbasket Survey. The 2018 price is a $1.02 increase when compared to 2017.
The main driver of the increase was due to higher retail prices for eggs. The survey found a 37% increase in price when compared to 2017. AFBF noted an avian flu outbreak in South Korea helped push U.S. egg exports up nearly 50% while production remained flat.
Additionally, orange juice was a significant driver for the increase. The price of a half-gallon container increased by 24 cents. AFBF cited the smallest Florida orange crop in 70 years due to hurricanes as a primary reason for the price increase.
However, milk prices dropped by about 6% due to continued record production volumes in the U.S. Additionally, increased competition from non-dairy milks and other beverages accounted for some of the price hike.
The marketbasket survey tracked closely with the Consumer Price Index report for food at home. Grocery prices have increased gradually over time, and the share of the average food dollar that is sent to farm and ranch families have dropped alongside that trend.
"Through the mid-1970s, farmers received about one-third of consumer retail food expenditures for food eaten at home and away from home, on average. Since then, that figure has decreased steadily and is now about 14.8%, according to [USDA's] revised Food Dollar Series," said AFBF director of market intelligence John Newton.
Alcohol-free cocktails will appear at more restaurants and bars in 2020, while plant-based will extend beyond faux meats.
read moreThere's a gap between how consumers want to eat and their spending habits, according to Nielsen.
read moreChris focuses on fresh, canned and frozen fruit and fresh and dried vegetables for the Food Institute Report. In addition, he assists in compiling data for various Food Institute publications throughout the year. He is a proud Rutgers University alumnus with a degree in English, and has a background in web writing for a variety of industries, including legal, foodservice and small-to-medium sized businesses. In his downtime you can find him watching New York Yankees baseball, hiking, enjoying live music and spending time with his dog Kaiden. He invites you to contact him via email at chris.campbell@foodinstitute.com to talk about anything food-related.
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