All articles tagged with #food prices
Record drought grips the continental U.S. with 61% of the Lower 48 in moderate to exceptional drought and near-total dryness in the Southeast, driven by a March drought peak and historically low snowpack in the West; experts warn this could worsen wildfire seasons, strain water supplies, and push up food prices as crop yields may falter, with El Niño forces and climate change amplifying the trend.
A record drought across the United States is driving up food prices, increasing wildfire risk, and straining water supplies, highlighting broad impacts on agriculture, communities, and daily life.
The FAO warns that a prolonged blockage of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger a global food crisis as fertilisers and other key inputs from Gulf producers depend on sea transit through the chokepoint; currently high stocks keep prices from spiking, but a sustained disruption could raise fertiliser and energy costs, push up commodity prices, and hit poorer countries hardest, underscoring the urgency of a ceasefire and resumed shipping.
The National Farmers’ Union warns UK food prices are likely to rise over the coming weeks to months as the Iran conflict drives up fuel, fertiliser and energy costs. Glasshouse crops such as tomatoes and cucumbers are most immediately affected, with broader farming costs potentially passed on to shoppers. Ministers will discuss the impact at Cobra next week as the cost of living and inflation remain on the agenda.
In Gaza City, 60-year-old Samira Touman and her daughters bake traditional Eid cookies in a partially ruined home, using a wood-fired oven due to gas shortages, while high ingredient prices and border closures squeeze budgets; they sell to neighbors and online to earn extra income, reflecting on lost pre-war comforts and hoping for more stable conditions as Eid approaches.
The Iran conflict is disrupting shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, hindering access to key fertilizer inputs like ammonia and urea and risking higher global food prices as fertilizer costs rise and the supply chain tightens ahead of spring planting; US farmers already face uncertain shipments and higher diesel costs, signaling potential impact on crop yields and grocery costs if disruptions persist.
A disruption of the Strait of Hormuz could curb fertiliser (ammonia/urea) and LNG flows, triggering a global fertiliser price shock that threatens crop yields and food security for months or years as farmers face higher costs and tighter supplies.
Attacks and a near-total halt of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz threaten a large chunk of global fertiliser supplies (ammonia and nitrogen), with fertiliser costs highly tied to fossil gas. A prolonged closure could push up fertiliser prices, reduce crop yields, and lift prices for staples like bread and potatoes, impacting farmers in the UK, Europe, and North America who already face price volatility. The Gulf disruption compounds existing pressures from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and multiple incidents near Hormuz underscore ongoing risk to shipments of energy and fertiliser inputs.
Despite a resilient economy and cooling inflation, CBS News reports Americans’ top economic concern remains affordability, driven by rising food costs, a tight housing market and higher health-care premiums. Pew data place food, housing and health care at the forefront of worries ahead of President Trump’s State of the Union. While the administration touts measures like housing-market reforms and drug-price initiatives, economists caution that a lasting relief requires addressing a persistent housing shortage and ongoing health-insurance costs, with staples such as ground beef and coffee up significantly and 2026 health insurance premiums rising about 6–7%.
A year after returning to the White House, Trump’s economy has been resilient with some gains—notably a stock-market rally driven in part by AI optimism and tariff revenue—while several campaign promises have not materialized. Food prices are mixed (down in some categories, up in others), gas prices fell but not to the promised level, energy costs did not halve, auto manufacturing hasn’t revived, manufacturing jobs remained flat or declined, and debt continues to rise despite tariff income; the piece weighs promises against actual progress and highlights structural constraints behind the mixed picture.
U.S. food prices have risen about 19% since January 2022, with December’s CPI showing food up 3.1% year over year and 0.7% for the month. Beef, coffee and other staples are driving the climb, while eggs have cooled after a spike. Dining out isn’t spared either, as food-away-from-home costs rose about 4.1% annually, amid factors like constrained supplies, tariffs, weather, and higher labor and utility costs. Tariff cuts announced in November had not yet translated into immediate price relief.
December 2025 inflation rose 2.7% from a year earlier as gas prices fell 0.5% month-to-month, but grocery prices jumped 0.7% and housing costs edged higher—the largest contributor to the monthly increase—leaving inflation above the Fed's 2% target and shaping expectations for policy moves.
The article explores how the US economy under Trump's administration has impacted food consumption, highlighting rising food costs, increased demand at food pantries, and the disparity between different socioeconomic groups, with some still spending lavishly on luxury foods like caviar while others struggle to afford basic necessities.
The latest inflation figures show a slowdown in price increases, with a 3.2% rise over the past year, driven by falling food prices and reduced clothing costs, which may lead to lower interest rates and cheaper borrowing, offering some relief for consumers but potentially impacting savers.
UK inflation fell to 3.2% in November, driven by lower clothing, food, and other prices, surpassing expectations and raising hopes of peaking inflation, which may lead to further interest rate cuts; however, some prices like beef and coffee continue to rise, and the overall cost of living remains high for many households.