With the cost of oil and commodities falling over the past several weeks, the question has been why food prices weren't following suit.
However, US Department of Agriculture economist Ephriam Leibtag says there is some good news for next year.
"With the weakness in the economy and falling commodity prices we are adjusting our food price forecast downward for 2009," Leibtag says.
Just a few weeks ago he was forecasting an increase in food prices of 4-5pc, but now says that is unlikely.
"We're moving that down a half a percentage point so that our overall food forecast will now be 3.5-4.5pc," Leibtag says.
"That still puts us slightly above the historical average, but definitely not anywhere near what we saw in 2008."
The food price hike in 2008 was the highest in 20 years at 6pc.
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