Why Are Food Prices So High When Commodity Prices Are Falling?

Food commodity prices have plunged 45-60% in the past six months. So why are food prices at the grocery store substantially higher than one year ago? Grain, dairy, meat and soft commodity prices are the lowest we have seen in two years, so why are prices at the grocery store still higher than one year ago? Gas prices have plunged over the past six months due to the lower crude oil price, but food prices have remained stubbornly high. Either wholesale food distributors are hanging onto the higher prices while their own costs drop, or the grocery store chains are gouging consumers to pad their pockets. One of these two groups -- or a combination of both -- is keeping the excess profits and taking advantage of consumers by not passing on the lower commodity prices to the people who buy their products.