Monday, August 4, 2008
Lost among laptops, textbooks and pens is a back-to-school necessity that has become more expensive recently — food.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food costs are rising because of stronger global demand, weather problems in some regions and the increased use of some foods to create biofuels. Because of the rising cost of food commodities, grocery stores and KU Dining facilities have raised prices since last school year.
“Any sort of food establishment, whether it’s fast food or fine dining, is feeling the impact,” said KU Dining Services Marketing Manager Shant Thomas.
Thomas said students could expect slightly higher food prices at on-campus locations such as the Kansas Union and Wescoe Underground. He said KU Dining Services only raised prices enough to offset its own rising expenditures.
According to the USDA, the cost of dining out is about 4 percent higher than it was one year ago.
The meal plans offered by KU Dining have increased by an average of almost 10 percent since last year, but Thomas said the rise in meal plan pricing was not triggered by food prices. He said a reorganization of the University’s meal plans based on customer comments may have led to the increase.
Grocery stores have not escaped increased food costs. According to the USDA, purchasing foods at the supermarket became nearly 6 percent more expensive in the past year.
“Food price inflation is running the highest it’s been in 20 years and a lot of people aren’t used to it,” said USDA economist Ephraim Leibtag. “It’s not ridiculous, but it’s noticeable.”
The most noticeable price spikes occurred in eggs, dairy and products made with wheat or corn. The price of eggs rose about 18 percent in the past year, and cheese costs inflated 14 percent. Cereal and bakery food prices jumped nearly 11 percent.
A 10 to 15 percent price push each year could punish students’ pockets in the long run, but some aren’t concerned yet.
“I’m not too worried about it,” said Justyne Swiercinsky, Clarkston, Mich., freshman. “I worked in high school to save up money for college.”
Leibtag said continuing issues with the production of biofuels would keep grain prices high in the long-term, but the prices of other foods could stabilize in the near future.
— Edited by Matt Hirschfeld
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