Price transmission across the U.S. food distribution system

Abstract

Price transmission models are estimated using recursive methods across 100 food commodities. From the individual commodities, short- and long-run price transmission coefficients are estimated for rising and falling prices. These coefficients are classified into five commodity categories and expressed as one vector while coding for causality, market levels, rising/falling prices, short and long run, and time period. Then the impact of each variable is estimated and inferences are drawn about the degree of price transmission. Results show that price linkages are strong but slightly declining over time, with some evidence of asymmetric behavior. Long-run rising prices are passed through more than long-run falling prices, except for fruits and vegetables.