Global food prices rose in April

Global food prices inched up in April, due to rising meat prices and small increases in the cost of vegetable oils and cereals.

The United Nations food agency’s world price index rose in April, for the second month in a row, to 119.1 points, up from 118.8 points in March.

That still leaves prices 9.6% lower than a year ago, though.

Cereal prices rose by 0.3%, amid concerns about unfavorable crop conditions in parts of the European Union, the Russian Federation and the United States of America.

Vegetable oil prices rose by 0.3%, driven by costlier sunflower and rapeseed oil.

Meat prices increased by 1.6% last month, with international poultry, bovine and ovine meat prices all rising.

But there were some price falls too – among sugar and dairy products.

Sugar prices fell by 4.4%, due to larger-than-previously-anticipated outputs in India and Thailand and improved weather conditions in Brazil.

Dairy prices dipped by 0.3%, ending six consecutive months of increases. This was due to “sluggish spot import demand for skim milk powder”, and lower world cheese prices. Butter prices rose, though.