Foreign Agricultural Trade of the United States, Sept/Oct 1983

Shipments of U.S. farm products remained depressed during the first 11 months of fiscal year 1983, dropping 14 percent below year-earlier levels. Economic growth and a strong dollar attracted agricultural and other products into the United Slates during the first 11 months of fiscal year 1983. Corn and soybean prices have moved sharply higher recently because of hot, dry weather. U.S. export of farm products to Latin America in fiscal year 1983 are expected to total $4.7 billion, lower than fiscal year 1982's $4.9 billion value. U.S. consumers continue to spend less income on food than consumers in other countries, despite many economic problems, including rising food prices during the seventies