United States-Rise in meat prices.

UNITED STATES-RISE IN MEAT PRICES.

Retail food prices at the supermarket dropped slightly in the first quarter, but some meat items got more expensive, according to the latest American Farm Bureau Federation Marketbasket Survey.

The informal survey shows the total cost of 16 food items that can be used to prepare a meal was $47.41, down about 5.5 percent from the fourth quarter of 2008 and down just less than 1 percent from a year ago. This was the second quarter in a row of overall decreases in prices for food items surveyed.

Of the 16 items surveyed, 11 decreased and five increased in average price compared to the prior quarter.

Three meat products rose in price, including: ground chuck up 8 cents per pound to $2.94; sliced deli ham up 8 cents per pound to $4.94 and sirloin tip roast up 5 cents per pound to $3.99.

Boneless chicken breast prices fell 12 cents to $3.38 per pound while bacon prices fell 11 cents to $3.26 per pound.

New this quarter, AFBF is reporting average retail prices on different foods in the marketbasket with the addition of sliced deli ham, shredded cheddar cheese, chicken breasts, orange juice and bagged salad. Pork chops, block cheddar cheese, whole chicken fryers, mayonnaise and corn oil were dropped from the survey.

"The balance of foods in the marketbasket has been adjusted to track more closely with the way Americans currently shop for groceries," said AFBF economist Jim Sartwelle in a news release.

Other foods surveyed include: Russett potatoes, eggs, toasted oat cereal, apples, white bread and flour.