FOOD PRODUCTS
<i> Times Staff and Wire Reports</i>
Modest Rise in Food Prices Forecast: The Agriculture Department predicted a 2% to 4% increase this year. The department’s Economic Research Service said meat prices would drop slightly, offsetting higher prices for coffee, fresh vegetables, cereals and bakery goods. Last year, food prices rose 2.4%, slightly under the overall inflation rate of 2.7%. Surging coffee prices because of frost damage in Brazil accounted for much of the increase and will persist this year.
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