Food Markets & Prices

• Consumer and Producer Price Indexes
  The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food measures changes in the retail prices of food items and is the principal indicator of changes in retail food prices. The Producer Price Index (PPI) for food measures changes in prices paid to domestic producers for their output. ERS regularly updates food price forecasts for up to 18 months in the future.
• Food Prices, Expenditures, and Establishments
  ERS develops and monitors indicators of individual, household, and market-level food consumption, prices, expenditures, food marketing costs, and farm-to-retail price spreads. ERS has acquired proprietary data for use in food economics research.
• Food Service Industry
  ERS research examines the size of the national foodservice market, major market segments, as well as the foodservice market at the State level.
• Local Foods
  ERS research on local food systems explores alternative definitions of local food, estimates market size and scope, describes the characteristics of local food consumers and producers, and examines economic and health impacts of local food systems.
• Processing & Marketing
  ERS monitors key developments and trends across the U.S. food marketing system.
• Retailing & Wholesaling
  ERS research on trends and developments in wholesale sales and in traditional and nontraditional retail food stores.