Global Food Prices Tick Higher After Five Months of Decline

Global food prices rose slightly in the latest FAO Food Price Index as vegetable oils, cereals, and meat increased, offsetting declines in dairy and sugar.

NASHVILLE, TENN. (RFD NEWS) — After five straight months of decline, the FAO Food Price Index, released on Friday morning, shows increases in several areas. The overall index gained just under one percent.

Cereals, meats, and vegetable oils all saw gains, offsetting declines in dairy and sugar. Sugar saw the largest decline at 4.1 percent, hitting the lowest level since October 2020.

The vegetable oil index saw the largest gain, up 3.3 percent on the month.

Cereals gained 1.1 percent while the meat index rose 0.8 percent.

Related Stories
Beef x Dairy cattle with strong genetics and documentation are earning prices comparable to native feeders.
Mixed product pricing and rising milk supplies suggest margin management will remain critical as 2026 unfolds.
Corn and soybean exports continue to anchor weekly inspection totals, with China maintaining a visible role, while wheat and sorghum remain more dependent on regional and seasonal demand shifts.
Marilyn Schlake with the UNL Department of Agricultural Economics joined us for a closer look at the evolving role of livestock sale barns.
Rail continues to carry a larger share of the grain load, increasing sensitivity to rail capacity, labor, and pricing conditions.
Meat stocks rose seasonally but remain below last year overall, while tighter butter inventories could support dairy prices, and belly stocks warrant close watch for pork markets.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

NCBA Chief Counsel Mary-Thomas Hart breaks down CAFO permits, EPA enforcement, and what cattle producers need to know as rules continue to evolve.
Rebuilding domestic textiles depends on automation and vertical integration, not tariffs or legacy manufacturing models.
RFD NEWS correspondent Frank McCaffrey spoke with U.S. Congressmen Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and John Rose (R-TN), who say bipartisan cooperation will be key to getting the Farm Bill to the president’s desk.
Merck’s Gary Tiller discusses new virtual fencing technology and how fence-free livestock management could change the way ranchers manage land and cattle.
At CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, RealAg Radio’s Shaun Haney discusses profitability, consumer demand, and how the integrated U.S.–Canada beef supply chain impacts cattle producers across North America.
The USDA’s February WASDE report looms as the CME Ag Economy Barometer shows declining farmer confidence, and more ag industry groups calling for swift policy action.