The growth in retail prices for fruit and vegetables in the United States reached a maximum estimate for the past couple of years

In February 2011, retail prices of fruit and vegetables in the United States showed the greatest growth in the last 2 years, as a result of the shortage of goods due to the frosts in Mexico and the southern States of United States. In February 2011, retail prices of fruit and vegetables in the United States showed the greatest growth in the last 2 years, as a result of the shortage of goods due to the frosts in Mexico and the southern States of United States. The average price of fruits and vegetables last month grew by 5.6% compared to February 2010, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States. Thus, the increase in prices compared with the same month a year earlier was the largest since October, 2008. Compared to January 2009 the retail prices of fruit and vegetables in the United States rose by 2.2%, which is the biggest indicator of price increases among all food categories. For example, the average price of tomatoes grown in open ground in February this year to $ 4/kg, whereas a month ago, it stood at $ 3.5/kg, and in February 2010 was-3.9/kg. The February price head of lettuce this year amounted to $ 2/kg, while in January this year it's a bit more than $ 2/kg, and in February 2010, was $1,85/kg. Rising prices for fruits and vegetables help increase food inflation in the country, analysts said. At the same time rising painfully affects the level of well-being of the population, because unemployment in the United States is at its highest in the last 30 years. In addition, the high demand for agricultural products in the world, and oil prices, which are at the level of $ 100 a barrel, also contribute to food inflation. United States Department of agriculture experts believe that food prices in supermarkets of the country will continue to grow. In February 2011, wholesale food prices increased by 3.9%, which is the largest level of growth since 1974. Compared to January 2011, retail food prices in February rose by 0.8% (the highest monthly growth since July 2008). Compared to last year, food prices rose by 2.8%, which is the highest level of growth for almost 2 years. At the same time, on the basis of such trends, analysts say increased competition between retailers, who are already building all sorts of discount and promo campaign among its customers.