CHICAGO —
An international index tracking staple food prices held flat for a third consecutive month, signaling an end to the two-year swing that pushed household grocery bills sharply higher.
The stabilization reflects recovering grain harvests in the northern hemisphere and easing export logistics.
Where prices stand
Cereal prices remain below their peak, while vegetable oils and dairy have been more volatile. Sugar and cocoa remain elevated relative to their five-year averages.
Costs underneath
Growers note that fertilizer prices, while off their highs, still sit above the pre-shock baseline. Energy costs for irrigation and cold storage continue to add pressure at the farm gate.
"Stabilization is not the same as relief," one commodity analyst cautioned. "Input costs are still high for producers."
Policy angle
Governments that built food-security stockpiles during the swing are now deciding whether to release reserves, a choice that will shape prices into next season.
