Producer Prices Highest Since 1974

February 2011 marked the largest one-month increase in 37 years for wholesale food prices, climbing by 3.9 percent.

That’s according to an analysis of the latest Producer Price Index Report by the Food Institute, which indicates that wholesale prices have not experienced an increase this great in many years. This number was only exceeded in November 1974 when spiraling oil prices resulted in sharp food price increases amounting to 4.2 percent.

“Food retailers in the U.S. have been very adept at holding price increases at a minimum for the past 18 months but the February surge will make that task more difficult in future months,” said Brain Todd, Food Institute president and CEO.

This latest increase in the Producer Price Index for finished consumer foods is driven by a 49 percent jump in fresh vegetable prices due to freezes and other crop issues in many farming areas. Price increases of 4 percent or more during the month for beef and pork also added to the surge in the overall index.

Of the 17 categories the Food Institute tracks on a regular basis, 13 posted increases during February, led by fresh vegetables, and followed by a nearly 10 percent jump in shortening and cooking oil, a 7.6 percent jump in egg prices, a 4.1 percent gain in dairy prices and a 3.2 percent jump in coffee prices.

The Upper Saddle River, N.J.-based Food Institute is a non-profit trade association that has been providing information about the food industry since 1928.