FAO Food Price Index
Annual average, index points (2014–2016 = 100).
About this data
Global food prices peaked at 143.7 in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine, fell for two years to 122.0 in 2024, then turned upward again to 127.2 in 2025. Prices remain well above pre-pandemic levels even after the retreat from the 2022 spike.
FAO Food Price Index
Annual average, index points (2014–2016 = 100).
Data table
| year | points | series | source_ref | value_basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 125.7 | index_level | fao-ffpi | FAO Food Price Index annual average 125.7 points, 2021 |
| 2022 | 143.7 | index_level | fao-ffpi | FAO Food Price Index annual average 143.7 points, 2022 — the peak |
| 2023 | 124 | index_level | fao-ffpi | FAO Food Price Index annual average 124.0 points, 2023 |
| 2024 | 122 | index_level | fao-dec-release | FAO Food Price Index annual average 122.0 points, 2024 |
| 2025 | 127.2 | index_level | fao-dec-release | FAO Food Price Index annual average 127.2 points, 2025 |
Methodology & sources
Last updated: Aug 14, 2026Methodology
The FAO Food Price Index tracks international prices of a basket of food commodities — cereals, vegetable oils, dairy, meat and sugar — weighted by average export shares, rebased so 2014–2016 = 100. It measures INTERNATIONAL COMMODITY prices, not retail food prices. Consumer food inflation lags it and is damped by processing, packaging, transport and retail margins, which are the larger part of a shelf price in high-income countries. A 14% move in this index does not mean a 14% move at the supermarket. Annual values are averages of the twelve monthly readings, so a sharp mid-year spike is smoothed. CAVEAT: the 2022 rise (+14.3%) and 2023 fall (−13.7%) look nearly symmetrical in percentage terms but are not in level — the index did not return to its 2021 base, and prices remain well above pre-pandemic levels. Percentage changes on an index compound; they do not cancel. Re-verified 2026-08-10.
Sources
- FAO — Food Price Index ↗ FAO — public
Comparisons are informative, not definitive. See each source for definitions and limits.