Strategic Pricing with Rising Commodity Prices In the recession of 2008 one of the important factors was the rise in certain commodity costs, particularly food commodities. In June 2008 the price of the average four-person family food budget had risen by almost 9 percent from January 2008, a period of less than six months. Families reacted by buying less and buying more selectively. Further aggravating the situation, U.S. inventories of key commodities such as soybeans, corn, and wheat had fallen to historically low levels in the spring of 2008.

Required: How do you think the producers of packaged foods, cereals, meat products, and other supermarket items change their pricing to react to the increased commodity prices and the change in consumer behavior?