THERE is mixed news this week about consumer prices, with some set to rise and others falling.

The good news is that fertiliser prices have fallen for the second month in a row, a plus for the farming community which relies on this input. The not-so-good news is that the price of at least flour is set to rise again.

Dennis Valdez, managing director of Newport-Fersan, a fertiliser producer, told the Jamaica Observer, “Prices so far for a range of fertilisers are going down. This is the second price reduction which will be implemented in two months. Next week prices will fall up to 4.5 per cent. Last month we had the first price cut of up to 14.5 per cent price reduction.”

Valdez stated, “The market is still very unstable because of the war, but Fersan is consistent with policy. When prices go down we pass it on.We are happy for farmers. Market conditions are the reason for the price cut. We were successful in getting better prices so we passed that on.”

Some food prices may be on the rise, otherwise. Derrick Nembhard, managing director of Jamaica Flour Mills Limited, told Sunday Finance on Friday, “We are currently offloading a wheat vessel and as such prices are under review.”

There is also an expectation that the price of flour will rise, following a 33 per cent price increase on the commodity in Trinidad and Tobago this week.

The last price increase was early in the year when price hikes, ranging up to 11 per cent, were attributed to a significant increase in the price of wheat and grain in the previous 12 months and also higher freight charges.