World Economic

Food prices in Kentucky for the second quarter were up over the first quarter, according to the latest Marketbasket Survey, released Friday by the Kentucky Farm Bureau.

The total cost of 40 basic grocery items was $108.48, up $4.86, or about 4.7 percent, from the first quarter of 2010. The total was the highest since the first quarter of 2009, according to the report.

Of the 40 items, 21 experienced price increases, 17 decreased and two — lettuce and wheat bread — were unchanged from the previous quarter.

Of the six food groups in the survey — beef, dairy, fruits and vegetables, grain, pork and poultry — beef had the greatest quarter-over-quarter increase, at 13 percent. Fruits and vegetables had the greatest price decline, at 2.6 percent.

The largest single-item change was in the price of a T-bone steak, which increased in price by 23 no checking account payday advance.8 percent from the first quarter, to $9.47 per pound from $7.65 per pound.

Mild cheddar cheese, sirloin tip roast and Idaho potatoes also experienced double-digit percentage increases in price between the first and second quarters, according to the survey.

Grade A large eggs fell 49.5 percent in the second quarter to $1.03 per dozen from $1.54 per dozen in the first quarter.

Tomatoes fell 33.6 percent during the same period, to $1.52 per pound from $2.03 per pound.

The survey is conducted quarterly to gauge food pricing trends. The Kentucky Farm Bureau estimates that farmers receive 19 cents of every retail food dollar.

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