The Oklahoman reports food prices are on the rise in every
department of your grocery store, but the biggest spike is seen
in butter, cheese and milk products. The higher prices for dairy
goods aren’t benefitting farmers. The price farmers receive for
milk is higher than last year, but feed costs for their cows
have nearly doubled in that time, soaking up any extra profit
they would receive. In addition to higher feed costs, more
expensive gasoline has added to the final price for the
consumer. According to Consumer Price Index, a gallon of whole
milk cost 39 cents more than this time last year and is expected
to increase again in June. The price for cheese and butter are
also higher. A pound of butter costs 35 percent more at almost a
dollar more than last April. While dairy prices are drastically
higher, the USDA says average inflation rate for other food
products is expected to be 3 percent to 4 percent in 2011. The
USDA forecast inflation rates for dairy and meat products to be
5 percent to 6 percent in 2