밀의 선물가가 사상 최고를 기록하면서 국제 곡물가가 상승하고 있다. 곡물가의 상승으로 인한 여파는 장기적 관점에서의 식품류 물가 상승, 헤지펀드에서 연금펀드까지 각종 곡물 관련 펀드, 각종 동물 사육 농가의 부담 등이 있다. 예전에 강원도에서 군생활할 때 소 키우는 아저씨가 국제 곡물가랑 국내 소고기 가격에 무척 민감했는데 ㅋㅋ 실시간 변하는 소고기 가격을 문자로 받는 SMS서비스를 보고서 조금 놀랬던 기억이 있다. 갑자기 이야기가 딴데로 새는군-_- 아무튼 농가의 부담이 커질 것이라는 얘기!

http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9769373&fsrc=nwl

Crunch time

Sep 6th 2007
From The Economist print edition
The world is hungry for information, as well as grain

THE long cycles of agriculture are seldom associated with gripping suspense. But on September 12th farmers, grain traders and investment managers around the world will be awaiting news that is generating greater excitement the higher grain prices rise. The monthly report of America's Department of Agriculture (USDA) is so sensitive that department staff go into what they call a “lockup” period for days in advance, often working all night just before its release.

Prices of global wheat futures hit records during the first week in September, about double what they were a year ago. Corn (maize) prices have also surged. Consumers are already paying higher prices, forking out more money for products ranging from bread to noodles—although the cost of something in the shops has many components in addition to the price of a commodity. Wheat, for instance, accounts for only about 5% of the cost of an average loaf of bread. But although a jumble of subsidies clouds the precise picture, a long period of higher food prices is beginning to show up in inflation numbers around the world.
(후략)