Influence of Agricultural Commodity Prices on Food Prices Wanes

Key aggregate figures on Austria's agriculture and forestry sectors show little change for 2024 compared to the previous year, although there were significant fluctuations in individual commodity markets, such as sugar beet. In foreign trade in agricultural goods and foodstuffs, imports expanded considerably once again. One important reason for this was the rise in the price of coffee, cocoa and tropical fruits, which is increasingly responsible for the current high inflation in food and beverages. Following a period of exceptionally high prices for domestically produced agricultural goods in the wake of the turmoil on international markets in 2022, the price level of cereals and other plant products has fallen significantly. The fall in agricultural commodity prices is only reflected in food prices with a delay and to a lesser extent. Data on food retail purchase prices provide more detailed insights into pricing dynamics. The influence of agricultural commodity prices is declining as other cost items gain in importance.