Food Prices Squeeze Families, Food Banks

By Charlene Israel CBN News Reporter April 14, 2008 CBNNews.com

American families, already pinched by soaring energy costs, are taking another big hit to their household budgets as food prices rise at the fastest rate in a decade...

...Record-high energy, corn and wheat prices in the past year have led to sticker shock for most people in the grocery aisles.

Ground beef, milk, chicken, apples, tomatoes, lettuce, coffee and orange juice are among the staples that cost more these days, according to the Federal Bureau of Labor. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports overall food prices rose nearly five percent last year. That means a carton of Grade A, large eggs will set you back $2.17. That's an increase of nearly a one dollar since February of 2006. Milk prices have also increased 26 percent.

See related article UN Warns on Food Shortage Riots