The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) food price index, which reflects the changes in the world market prices of the five food groups cereals, meat, dairy products, vegetable fats and sugar, fell by 1.6% in January compared to December, the organisation said on Friday.

Food prices on the international market have risen by an average of 6.2 per cent over the past year (last month compared to January last year).

Grain prices rose on average by 0.3 per cent per month but fell by 6.9 per cent over the year, while the opposite was true for vegetable oil prices, falling by 5.6 per cent per month and rising by 24.9 per cent per year.

Dairy products rose by an average of 2.4 per cent per month and 20.4 per cent per year, while sugar fell by 6.8 per cent and 18.5 per cent respectively.

Meat products were on average 1.4% cheaper in January than in December, with the fall in pork, poultry and sheepmeat prices offsetting the rise in beef prices.

The FAO Food Price Index reflects price developments on the international market, but these only partially affect prices in shops and can take time to make an impact.