The New York Times - Breakfast Items

Lead a Big Jump in Food Prices

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS MARCH 21, 2014
The cost of meats, fish and eggs led last month to the biggest increase in The cost of meats, fish and eggs led last month to the biggest increase in food food
prices prices in nearly two and a half years, according to government data An inde! that in nearly two and a half years, according to government data An inde! that
trac"s those foods rose 12 #ercent in $ebr%ary and has climbed 4 #ercent over the last trac"s those foods rose 12 #ercent in $ebr%ary and has climbed 4 #ercent over the last
12 months The increases were ac%te for items served at brea"fast $or instance, the 12 months The increases were ac%te for items served at brea"fast $or instance, the
#rice of lean #or" in the f%t%res mar"et is at record levels and is %# &2 #ercent since the #rice of lean #or" in the f%t%res mar"et is at record levels and is %# &2 #ercent since the
start of the year, to '1(1 a #o%nd Traders are a##arently concerned abo%t a deadly start of the year, to '1(1 a #o%nd Traders are a##arently concerned abo%t a deadly
vir%s ) #orcine e#idemic diarrhea ) in the *nited +tates hog #o#%lation The res%lt vir%s ) #orcine e#idemic diarrhea ) in the *nited +tates hog #o#%lation The res%lt
co%ld be higher #rices for bacon, which were already rising after farmers c%t #rod%ction co%ld be higher #rices for bacon, which were already rising after farmers c%t #rod%ction
beca%se of higher feed costs The average #rice of a #o%nd of sliced bacon was '&4, in beca%se of higher feed costs The average #rice of a #o%nd of sliced bacon was '&4, in
$ebr%ary, %# from '4-( a year earlier and '(,2 five years ago, government data $ebr%ary, %# from '4-( a year earlier and '(,2 five years ago, government data
shows Coffee f%t%res have s%rged &. #ercent this year and this month rose above '2 a shows Coffee f%t%res have s%rged &. #ercent this year and this month rose above '2 a
#o%nd for the first time in two years Coffee/growing regions of so%thern 0ra1il, the #o%nd for the first time in two years Coffee/growing regions of so%thern 0ra1il, the
world2s largest coffee #rod%cer, have been hit by dro%ght, and analysts say 0ra1il2s cro# world2s largest coffee #rod%cer, have been hit by dro%ght, and analysts say 0ra1il2s cro#
co%ld shrin" by abo%t 20 #ercent this year 3range 4%ice f%t%res are %#, too5 they co%ld shrin" by abo%t 20 #ercent this year 3range 4%ice f%t%res are %#, too5 they
climbed as high as '1&. a #o%nd March ,, their highest #rice in two years climbed as high as '1&. a #o%nd March ,, their highest #rice in two years
+o%rce6 +o%rce6 http:www!"ytimes!com#$%&$'##()si"ess(re*kf*st+items+ http:www!"ytimes!com#$%&$'##()si"ess(re*kf*st+items+
,e*d+*+(i-+.)mp+i"+food+prices!htm,/ref0foodprices12r0$ ,e*d+*+(i-+.)mp+i"+food+prices!htm,/ref0foodprices12r0$ 7M8A format at 7M8A format at
the end of the #a#er / bibliogra#hy9 the end of the #a#er / bibliogra#hy9
Comme"t*ry: Comme"t*ry:
:rices of food have increased ab%ndantly over the last few years, and they were ac%te for :rices of food have increased ab%ndantly over the last few years, and they were ac%te for
brea"fast items s%ch as meat, fish, eggs, #or", coffee and orange 4%ices The cost of these items brea"fast items s%ch as meat, fish, eggs, #or", coffee and orange 4%ices The cost of these items
led $ebr%ary to the ;biggest increase in food #rices in nearly two and a half years2 7government led $ebr%ary to the ;biggest increase in food #rices in nearly two and a half years2 7government
data9 An inde! shows that these #rices have climbed 4 #ercent over the last 12 months and data9 An inde! shows that these #rices have climbed 4 #ercent over the last 12 months and
rose 12 #ercent in $ebr%ary alone This is leading to a serio%s iss%e that co%ld ca%se #roblems rose 12 #ercent in $ebr%ary alone This is leading to a serio%s iss%e that co%ld ca%se #roblems
of vario%s levels of vario%s levels
<id yo% "now that lean #or" managed to #%t its #rice at record levels= >ell, it now costs <id yo% "now that lean #or" managed to #%t its #rice at record levels= >ell, it now costs
aro%nd '1(1 a #o%nd, &2 #ercent more than at the start of the year This can serio%sly affect aro%nd '1(1 a #o%nd, &2 #ercent more than at the start of the year This can serio%sly affect
the demand and s%##ly diagram since with higher #rices5 the demanded ?%antity is m%ch the demand and s%##ly diagram since with higher #rices5 the demanded ?%antity is m%ch
lower than %s%al @f this gets any more serio%s, it co%ld ta"e away the 4ob from h%ndreds of lower than %s%al @f this gets any more serio%s, it co%ld ta"e away the 4ob from h%ndreds of
#eo#le There2re two main reasons behind this h%ge increase in #rice 3ne, the traders are very #eo#le There2re two main reasons behind this h%ge increase in #rice 3ne, the traders are very
concerned abo%t a deadly vir%s going on between the *nited +tates hog #o#%lation called the concerned abo%t a deadly vir%s going on between the *nited +tates hog #o#%lation called the
O(ser3*tio" O(ser3*tio" I"4)iry I"4)iry
1 1 /8ed last month to the biggest increase /8ed last month to the biggest increase />hat led to s%ch an increase= />hat led to s%ch an increase=
/0iggest increase of what= /0iggest increase of what=
2 2 /Rose 12 #ercent /Rose 12 #ercent />hat rose 12 #ercent= >hen= How= />hat rose 12 #ercent= >hen= How=
( ( /@ncreases were ac%te /@ncreases were ac%te /Ac%te for what= /Ac%te for what=
4 4 /:riceA is at record levels /:riceA is at record levels /:rice of what= /:rice of what=
/ How can this affect the demand and s%##ly / How can this affect the demand and s%##ly
diagram= diagram=
& & /A##arently concerned /A##arently concerned />hy are they concerned= />hy are they concerned=
/>hat are they concerned abo%t= />hat are they concerned abo%t=
/How co%ld this affect their lives= /How co%ld this affect their lives=
, , /Res%lt co%ld be higher #rices /Res%lt co%ld be higher #rices /Res%lt of what= /Res%lt of what=
/Higher #rices for what= /Higher #rices for what=
/How will that affect the mar"et and the /How will that affect the mar"et and the
demand and s%##ly diagram= demand and s%##ly diagram=
. . /Already rising /Already rising />hat was already rising= >hy= />hat was already rising= >hy=
- - /0eca%se of higher feed costs /0eca%se of higher feed costs />hat got affected by this= >hy= />hat got affected by this= >hy=
B B /+%rged &. #ercent /+%rged &. #ercent />hat s%rged &. #ercent= />hat s%rged &. #ercent=
10 10 /Rose above '2 /Rose above '2 />hat rose= >hy= />hat rose= >hy=
/How does this affect the demand and s%##ly /How does this affect the demand and s%##ly
diagram= diagram=
11 11 /Hit by dro%ght /Hit by dro%ght
/Co%ld shrin" by abo%t 20 #ercent this year /Co%ld shrin" by abo%t 20 #ercent this year
/>hat were the conse?%ences />hat were the conse?%ences
/How does it affect the economy of the co%ntry /How does it affect the economy of the co%ntry
and the world= and the world=
;#orcine e#idemic diarrhea2 This res%lts in them val%ing their hogs m%ch more and therefore ;#orcine e#idemic diarrhea2 This res%lts in them val%ing their hogs m%ch more and therefore
demanding an increase of their bacon #rice, which was already rising Co% see, brea"fast items demanding an increase of their bacon #rice, which was already rising Co% see, brea"fast items
were not the only ones affected by a rise in #rice *nfort%nately, feeding costs also increased were not the only ones affected by a rise in #rice *nfort%nately, feeding costs also increased
<%e to this inconvenience, farmers c%t #rod%ction and increased the #rices of their bacon and <%e to this inconvenience, farmers c%t #rod%ction and increased the #rices of their bacon and
#or" #rod%cts in general This ca%sed them to s%ffer a red%ction in selling their goods, and #or" #rod%cts in general This ca%sed them to s%ffer a red%ction in selling their goods, and
therefore shooting the #rices of the few good they still had s"y/high The average #rice of a therefore shooting the #rices of the few good they still had s"y/high The average #rice of a
#o%nd of sliced bacon was '&4, in $ebr%ary, %# from '4-( a year earlier and '(,2 five years #o%nd of sliced bacon was '&4, in $ebr%ary, %# from '4-( a year earlier and '(,2 five years
ago 3f co%rse, with a higher #rice, the ?%antity they managed to sell wasn2t as high as before, ago 3f co%rse, with a higher #rice, the ?%antity they managed to sell wasn2t as high as before,
b%t @ g%ess this is what the food mar"et is all abo%t b%t @ g%ess this is what the food mar"et is all abo%t
A similar #roblem has been going on in the coffee ind%stry Coffee f%t%res this month rose A similar #roblem has been going on in the coffee ind%stry Coffee f%t%res this month rose
above '2 a #o%nd for the first time in two years, s%rging &. #ercent This increase, again co%ld above '2 a #o%nd for the first time in two years, s%rging &. #ercent This increase, again co%ld
definitely ta"e away the 4obs from many #eo#le, leaving h%ndreds %nem#loyed This also leads definitely ta"e away the 4obs from many #eo#le, leaving h%ndreds %nem#loyed This also leads
to a change in the demand and s%##ly diagram, since #eo#le don2t b%y nearly as m%ch when to a change in the demand and s%##ly diagram, since #eo#le don2t b%y nearly as m%ch when
the #rice is so high 3ne of the main reasons to this tragedy is that coffee farms are being hit by the #rice is so high 3ne of the main reasons to this tragedy is that coffee farms are being hit by
dro%ght5 therefore they are not nearly as #rod%ctive as before 0ra1il, for e!am#le6 @t2s the dro%ght5 therefore they are not nearly as #rod%ctive as before 0ra1il, for e!am#le6 @t2s the
world2s largest coffee #rod%cer, b%t is being serio%sly affected by dro%ght Analysts say that world2s largest coffee #rod%cer, b%t is being serio%sly affected by dro%ght Analysts say that
0ra1il2s cro# co%ld shrin" by abo%t 20 #ercent this year, which is really a lot Many 0ra1ilian2s 0ra1il2s cro# co%ld shrin" by abo%t 20 #ercent this year, which is really a lot Many 0ra1ilian2s
lives are s%rro%nded by the coffee ind%stry @f it shrin"s by 20 #ercent, the co%ntry2s economy lives are s%rro%nded by the coffee ind%stry @f it shrin"s by 20 #ercent, the co%ntry2s economy
wo%ld definitely s%ffer, therefore more #eo#le wo%ld be considered #oor, as well as many wo%ld definitely s%ffer, therefore more #eo#le wo%ld be considered #oor, as well as many
wo%ld be left %nem#loyed and maybe even homeless A#art from affecting 0ra1il2s economy, it wo%ld be left %nem#loyed and maybe even homeless A#art from affecting 0ra1il2s economy, it
will also affect the world2s economy since most of the other co%ntries de#end on 0ra1il for the will also affect the world2s economy since most of the other co%ntries de#end on 0ra1il for the
coffee they drin" The same is occ%rring in orange 4%ice f%t%res coffee they drin" The same is occ%rring in orange 4%ice f%t%res
As yo% might have noticed, the increase in #rices of all these different brea"fast items, are the As yo% might have noticed, the increase in #rices of all these different brea"fast items, are the
biggest in between two to two and a half years They all lead to the same "ind of conse?%ences, biggest in between two to two and a half years They all lead to the same "ind of conse?%ences,
and to a similar change in the s%##ly and demand diagram and to a similar change in the s%##ly and demand diagram
Bi(,io-r*phy: Bi(,io-r*phy:
THD A++3C@ATD< :RD++ E0rea"fast @tems 8ead a 0ig F%m# in $ood :ricesE THD A++3C@ATD< :RD++ E0rea"fast @tems 8ead a 0ig F%m# in $ood :ricesEThe New The New
York Times York Times The Gew Cor" Times, 21 Mar 2014 >eb 1B A#r 2014 The Gew Cor" Times, 21 Mar 2014 >eb 1B A#r 2014
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food/#riceshtml=refJfood#ricesKLrJ0M food/#riceshtml=refJfood#ricesKLrJ0M