Report warns of higher food prices

Soaring world food prices may slip in coming months, but steadily rising demand means higher costs will probably persist in the coming decade. That could fuel growing hunger and unrest in the world’s poorest nations, a United Nations agency reported.

Compared with the last 10 years, wheat and corn prices are likely to be 40% to 60% higher, sugar prices 30% higher, and butter and oil prices 60% to 80% higher, though the real increases could be less when inflation is considered, the Food and Agriculture Organization said in an annual report.