Rome, March 06 (QNA) - The benchmark measure for world food commodity prices rose in February, ending a five-month downward trend, as higher quotations for wheat, most vegetable oils and several meat types outweighed declines in cheese and sugar prices, according to the new update released today by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of globally-traded food commodities, averaged 125.3 points in February, up 0.9 percent from its revised January level while still 1.0 percent below its level a year earlier.

The FAO Cereal Price Index increased by 1.1 percent from January, driven primarily by higher world wheat prices reflecting reports of frosts in parts of Europe and the US.

The FAO Meat Price Index increased by 0.8 percent, while the Dairy Price Index declined by 1.2 percent, driven primarily by lower cheese prices.

The FAO Sugar Price Index was down by 4.1 percent from January and by as much as 27.3 percent compared with February 2025 amid expectations of ample global supplies in the current season. (QNA)