Food prices matter for producers and consumers. They impact farmer’s incomes, and they matter for how much – and what foods – families can afford.
The price of foods gives an important indicator of the balance between agricultural production and market demand. When supplies are tight, prices tend to rise, which can have a significant impact on their affordability for consumers.
In low-to-middle-income countries, a large share of the population is employed in agriculture. Producers typically benefit from higher food prices; consumers from lower prices. Food markets can therefore have a strong impact on food affordability, hunger and undernourishment, and dietary quality.
On this page, you can find data, visualizations, and writing on global and country-level food prices and expenditures, the affordability of food, and how this has changed over time.
