Marketing bill rose, while farm value declined in 1997.

摘要

The amount spent by US consumers on food reflects two main components: the farm value and the marketing bill. Farm value measures the payments farmers receive for their raw commodities used in food, whilst the marketing bill represents the difference between the farm value of food produced on US farms and the final costs to consumers. Farm value declined in 1997 for the first time since 1991: this reflected lower farm prices that offset high supplies of many farm products. The marketing bill continued to increase in 1997. labour costs are the largest component of the marketing bill (38.5%), and these grew more than any other component during 1997; although packaging, transport and energy costs all continued to increase. Food industry profits declined in 1997.