FAO Food Price Index: Global food prices have dropped more than 10% since last October

The FAO Food Price Index for October 2023 is out. Where do global food prices stand, and which categories saw the largest gains?

picnic summer food_adobe stock.png

Adobe Stock

This month’s FAO Food Price Index is out. The index measures the monthly change in the price of food commodities around the globe. Where do global food prices stand, and which categories saw the largest gains?

The FAO Food Prince Index for October was down 0.5 percent from September, and almost 11 percent below this time last year.

Most categories were down, following a recent trend that started about a year ago. This comes with declines in sugar, cereals, vegetable oils, and meat.

Here are some key takeaways from this month’s report:

  • Dairy saw an increase, up 2.2 percent, but still around 20 percent off a year ago.
  • The cereal price index was down one percent.
  • Vegetable oil was down to 0.7.
  • Meat was down 0.6 percent, and sugar fell 2.2 percent.
Related Stories
A disciplined, breakeven-based marketing plan helps protect margins and reduce risk, even when markets remain unpredictable.

Marion is a digital content manager for RFD News and FarmHER + RanchHER. She started working for Rural Media Group in May 2022, bringing a decade of digital experience in broadcast media and some cooking experience to the team.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

As we continue our Countdown to Convention presented by Culver’s, we meet some of the people who help bring the event to life.
Shaun Haney, Host of RealAg Radio, discusses President Trump’s move to halt trade talks with Canada and Mexico over a commercial about tariffs launched by the Government of Ontario.
Input costs are top of mind for farmers, as they contribute to higher prices and smaller profits.
The President’s trip to Asia this week follows a trade mission by the Iowa Soybean Association. Farmers say they were reminded that U.S. soybeans have an international reputation that can be easy to take for granted here at home.
Farmers who rely on H-2A workers will see a few key changes to speed up the process and make it fairer. On the ground, producers say labor issues create shortfalls in otherwise productive harvests.
John Appel with the Farmers Business Network (FBN) joins us for a closer look at the 2026 Crop Protection Market Outlook Report.