According to estimates by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), an increase of 1.7% in world food prices was due to higher prices for dairy products.

The FAO index, which monitors monthly changes in world prices for basic food products, is at the highest level since September last year, but at the same time it is 2.3% lower than it was a year ago.

For crops, the price index rose slightly due to the rise in price of corn.

Due to the rise in price of palm, soy and sunflower oil, the general index for vegetable oil increased by 1.8%.

A slight (by several points) rise in meat prices was also noted.

A seasonal decrease in butter production plus an increase in demand for skimmed milk powder, whole milk powder and cheese led to an increase in the monthly milk index by 5.6%.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is a UN organization. The main objective of the organization is to combat hunger. It functions as a forum at which developed and developing countries with equal voting rights discuss and agree on political decisions in the field of food security. The main office of the organization is in Rome.