FAO Food Price Index falls slightly during October

The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) Food Price Index, "which measures monthly price changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy, meat and sugar," fell slightly in October, "largely because of falling cereals and oils prices, the United Nations food agency said on Thursday," Reuters reports (11/8). According to an FAO press release, the index "averaged 213 points in October 2012, down two points (one percent) from September." Prices of cereals and oils fell, while the prices of sugar and dairy increased and meat prices remained stable, the press release notes, adding, "Food prices averaged eight percent lower during the first 10 months of this year compared to the same period last year" (11/8).