Staple prices

Rice in the Times:-

The global trade in rice lurched to the brink of a 1970s-style “oil shock” today as prices surged 2.3 per cent to a new high and speculation mounted that Thailand, Asia’s predominant “rice superpower”, may join other regional producers in curbing exports.

Wheat in the Guardian:-

Wheat prices have been rising rapidly because of increased demand from developing economies and because of pressure on farmers to switch to biofuel crops. There is a global shortage of hard red spring wheat, a variety used in bread that has doubled in price since last September.