Global food prices drop for sixth month, easing pain of high grocery bills

The fall in the price of vegetable oil drove the decline

The index by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of commonly traded food commodities.

Global food prices fell for the sixth month in a row in September, with sharp drops in the quotations for vegetable oils more than offsetting higher cereal prices, according to a new report from the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The food price index was down 1.1% from August while remaining 5.5% higher than its value a year earlier. The Index tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of commonly traded food commodities.