Why have food prices increased?

Question

Why have food prices increased?

Answer 1

because the cost of gas has gone up so much it cost more money for companies to ship their products (including food) and so companies add the extra cost into the prices we pay.

the increase use of biofuel made from food (like corn) has driving up demand and because of this new demand farmers are charging more because they can get more money for their goods.

and if you look at what we eat corn (in one form or another) is either a common ingredient in food or it is what we feed the animals that we eat.  and since corn cost more these things cost more.

the value of the dollar has being going down.

Answer 2

inflation

the cost of everything has gone up including the cost of diesel to transport it

Answer 3

Oh come on, tractors use fuel, its gone up, farmers charge more, it now has to be delivered to the packing stations by lorry, oh yes they use fuel, and oh yes it costs more.

  At the packing station they use electric to light the place and run the machines. So again they pass on the bill. Now the food has to be packed and the packaging has gone up due to aforementioned fuel increases and delivery of same. That is passed on now the food has to be taken to the shops and the horse eats more hay and that is dearer because the farmer's costs have gone up and the farrier has to pay more for his gas to reshoe the horse so he puts his charges up, do you REALLY want me to go on!!

Answer 4

cos we have a labour government. They tax fuel, hauliers increase prices to transport goods, shops have to pay inflated costs and then they add on prices to cover the fuel costs.

Thanks Gordon Brown, i'll be broke before 2009 starts

Answer 5

GREED!

I know I'll get beat up for this one .....however i find it funny how prices of fuel differ from one town to the next.

they it claim it cost more to transport goods. if you break down the actual cost on a ten thousand gallon fuel delivery , it comes no where close to .10 per gallon difference stations charge (only 15 miles apart) I think everyone (food ,farmers, industry) is jumping on the same band wagon

Answer 6

One good reason is because Diesel prices have increased...

Tractors use ALOT of diesel planting crops... This reflects in food prices..

Answer 7

Inflation.

Answer 8

Good day your Earlship,

I rather fancy it is I who shall have to confess to being the responsible party here. Things rather got out of hand when I started one of my little scams to generate some extra revenue.

I had a little chat with one of my contacts in China and between us we managed to convince the peasants that they must each eat 1 grain of rice extra per day (naturally, I have 'interests' in the rice market).

Little did I realise that it would amount to 300 million grains per day or 2100 million grains per week.

This subsequently put demand on alternative food supplies which, inevitably, ended up with the cabbage from farms in Norfolk costing more.

Sorry, old chap.