The annual Fall Marketbasket survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation shows lower retail food prices compared to the same time last year. The survey released Monday showed an eight percent decrease, or four dollars in price, to total $49.70. The marketbasket survey features 16 common food items including eggs, whole milk, cheddar cheese, chicken breast, sirloin tip roast and ground chuck. Of the 16 products, 13 in all decreased in price while just three increased in average price. Egg prices saw the most significant price drop, down 51 percent compared with last year. Farm Bureau’s John Newton says that is because egg production is recovering well from the 2014 avian influenza outbreak. Prices for bagged salad, apples and potatoes all increased. Newton says apple prices are higher because of dry conditions in apple growing areas, and salad prices are up because of lower output by farmers in California and Arizona.
