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America's consumers enjoyed another quarter of lower retail prices for food at the supermarket level, according to the latest American Farm Bureau Federation Marketbasket Survey. The informal survey on the total cost of 16 basic grocery items shows a 22-cent decrease from this year's second quarter survey results.

The $34.98 average paid by volunteer shoppers for the 16 items also reflects a 72-cent decline from the 2001 third quarter results. Despite an overall increase in total average cost since the survey's inception in the first quarter of 1989, food remains affordable. The latest quarterly survey is only $6.48 more than the inaugural average of $28.50.

While some speculate that weather disasters devastating crops across the nation this summer will cause grocery store prices to rise, AFBF Senior Economist Terry Francl said that will not be the case. "Although the major row crops like corn and soybeans will have lower yields, reduced production and higher prices, their primary use is in the form of poultry and animal feed, which results in a lagged effect on consumer food prices," Francl said. "Indeed, in the short term, meat and poultry prices are under pressure due to large supplies, some of which occurred because of beef herd liquidation due to extremely poor pasture and forage conditions. It will take anywhere from six to 12 months before producers' reaction to the higher feed cost will be reflected in lower animal production and higher meat prices in the grocery store."

Of the 16 items surveyed, 11 decreased and five increased in average price compared to the 2001 second quarter survey. Showing the largest decrease was cheddar cheese, dropping 21 cents to $3.24 per pound. Pork chops experienced a drop of 13 cents, down to $3.02 a pound, followed closely by mayonnaise, which dropped 12 cents to $2.94 per 32-ounce jar, and oat cereal, which fell 11 cents to $2.85 per 10-ounce box.

Bucking the downward price trend was russet potatoes, which increased 41 cents to $2.63 per 5-pound bag. After falling 26 cents in the second quarter, ground chuck was up 12 cents to $2.03 per pound. Other items showing an increase include eggs, up 8 cents to $1.05 per dozen; sirloin tip roast, up 7 cents to $2.85 per pound; and whole milk, up 1 cent to $2.75 per gallon.

While retail grocery store prices have generally increased over time, the share of the average food dollar received by America's farm and ranch families has actually dropped. According to the latest Agriculture Department statistics, America's farmers and ranchers receive 19 cents of every dollar spent for food, down from 31 cents in 1980. Using that across-the-board percentage, the farmer's share of this quarter's Marketbasket average total would be about $6.65.