Falling prices equates to a falling demand for goods. Which given high unemployment and 15 - 24 months of economic uncertainty, should not be too surprising.
When the arabs thought we were going to stop driving our cars going into the recession, they opened the spigot and fuel prices fell. Once they saw that we will keep on rollin' they tightened up the supplies a bit.
With the effects of global warming shortening this year's growing seasons, food prices will remain volatile. If you haven't planned to do so already, it would be a good year to plant a garden.
This will be my third year with an attempt at a garden....hopefully, this year's will be better than last years. The beans I grew were so stringy we couldn't eat them. Didn't plant enough of them either. My tomatoes were about 1/3 the size of most of my friend's that have gardens.....I just don't have a green thumb, but I'm gonna keep trying.
Find out what they do differently.
Also, what do you know about the location of your garden?
I was stumped for a while as to why part of my garden wouldn't grow anything. Found out that just a few years ago there was an equipment shed there, a good bit of oil, gas, grease etc. had spilled on the ground over the years. Moved my garden.