WASHINGTON -- Retail prices for food sold at supermarkets increased a seasonally adjusted 0.7% in July against June, as prices for all consumer goods edged up 0.2%, the Labor Department reported last week in its Consumer Price Index.
against June, but posted a 6.1% increase from July 1999, the Commerce Department said in a separate report last week. By comparison, retail sales for all consumer goods last month were unchanged and increased 4.1% over the year.
Among the categories of food with notable retail-price fluctuations during July were meats, poultry and fish, which increased 0.5% for the month and rose 5.8% from year-ago levels. Dairy products increased 0.6% for the month and rose 3.1% from July 1999, and prices for fruits and vegetables edged up 1% for the month and fell 0.5% over the 12 months.
Meanwhile, wholesale food prices in July were unchanged against June and posted a 2.1% increase from July 1999, according to the Producer Price Index, also released last week. Wholesale prices for all finished goods last month were also unchanged and were up 4.1% compared with July 1999.
Among the categories of food with large wholesale price fluctuations were fresh fruits and melons, which declined 0.5% for the month and fell 18.7% from year-ago levels. Fresh- and dry-vegetable prices dipped 0.6% for the month and increased 1.6% for the 12 months, and egg prices fell 17.4% in July and dropped 6.5% from July 1999. Beef and veal prices declined 1.4% for the month and increased 0.7% from year-ago levels as prices for pork increased 1.9% in July and jumped 32.2% from July 1999.