Food prices hit record high last year, according to FAO

摘要

World food prices fell for an 11th consecutive month in December - but the record highs earlier in the year mean that 2011 saw the highest prices since 1990, says the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). The average global price of a basket of food commodities dropped to its lowest level in 2011 last month - 11.3% below February's peak - according to its latest food price index published last week (January 12). The decline was driven by sharp falls in global prices for cereals, sugar and oils due to bumper crops, together with slowing demand and a stronger US dollar, concluded the FAO. Yet despite the downward trend* the overall index for 2011 averaged 228 points - the highest since the UN body began measuring international food prices back in 1990.