World food prices fell further in December and even fell back below their level of a year ago, after a year marked by soaring prices, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization said on Friday. food and agriculture (FAO).
The FAO food price index, which tracks the change in international prices of a basket of commodities, fell 1.9% compared to November 2022. This is its ninth consecutive drop after March's record rise following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
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This index averaged 132.4 points in December, “
ie 1% less than its value a year earlier.
However, for 2022 as a whole (...) the index averaged 143.7 points, or 14.3% more than the average value for 2021
,” the FAO said.
“
It is a good thing that food prices are calming down after two very volatile years
,” said FAO Chief Economist Máximo Torero, adding that it was essential to “
remain vigilant and focus on the 'alleviation of global food insecurity
'.
Read alsoWorld food prices remain stable in November, according to the FAO
The vegetable oil price index, down 6.7%, drives this monthly decline.
It falls to its lowest level since February 2021, as prices for palm, soybean, rapeseed and sunflower oils all fell in December.
The FAO Cereal Price Index is down 1.9% from November, due to greater post-harvest wheat availability in the southern hemisphere and a drop in world wheat prices. corn.
