The annual inflation rate in Egypt jumped to 24.3 percent in December, the highest it has been in seven years and more than double the 2015 level. This was largely due to a government action last year that also particularly affected grain prices. Regional Updates MIDDLE EAST/MEDITERRANEAN COMMENTS The annual inflation rate in Egypt jumped to 24.3 percent in December, the highest it has been in seven years and more than double the 2015 level. This was largely due to the devaluation of the Egyptian pound, which had a major impact on local prices. Grain was particularly affected as it mostly imported, and that price increased 54.1 percent. Meanwhile, the cost of food rose 29.3 percent in 2016.Also in Egypt, a recent study has concluded that...
What You Need to Know Today: Commodities were mostly lower across the board today after yesterday’s Federal Reserve meeting hinted at a potential interest rate hike later in 2026. The dollar index reached its highest level in over a year, and a strong dollar makes U.S. agricultural expor...
Key Market Insights Geopolitical Limbo: Geopolitical risk remained a key driver across global commodity markets today. President Trump stated that the Iran memorandum of understanding is not yet final and warned that military action could resume if negotiations fail. Both sides continue w...
Illuminating the value of technical research
On behalf of a commodity producer organization, WPI evaluated the outputs from a project that featured a $5 million investment into technical research over multiple years. WPI’s team captured the results of this extensive effort and synthesized them for presentation to the organization’s governing board; among the findings uncovered and presented for the first time was the development of genomic traits proven, via rigorous testing, to provide crop yield advantages of 50 percent or more to U.S. farmers in times of drought. Capturing measurable results from long-term efforts can be challenging. Educating clients on the dynamics of success measurement when quantifiable results are not readily available requires deep client-consultant collaboration and an ability to consider both near- and long-term client aspirations with market/policy dynamics – attributes that WPI brings to every consulting engagement.