BACKGROUND
Soaring international food prices in 2007-2008 resulted in higher domestic food prices in many developing countries, affecting consumption of low-income populations and causing food riots. A period of high volatility in food commodity markets followed, putting in evidence the value of timely and reliable market analyses to support appropriate policy decisions.
In this framework, FAO's Global Information and Early Warning System (GIEWS) developed an online food price data and analysis tool (FPMA Tool), which has become a leading world source of information on domestic and international food prices, and is now being adapted for use at country level. At the same time, systematic reporting on food price developments at world, regional and country level was also initiated through the monthly publication, now known as the FPMA Bulletin.
The Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) website reinforces this work with the introduction of more dynamic analysis on domestic prices of basic foods, to strengthen early warning of high food prices that may negatively affect food security.