May crop prices were 48,9pc higher than twelve months earlier, and livestock and animal products prices were up 16,6pc, both rising slightly less than the respective increases registered in April. January-May farm gate prices were up 43,4pc yr/yr. The increases were from a low base as farm gate prices fell 0,2pc in the twelve months to May 2010 and were down 1,4pc yr/yr in January-April 2010. Farm gate prices fell year-on-year until June 2010 before starting to rise at a double-digit pace in July 2010. In a breakdown by crop type, farm gate prices of cereals, including seeds, were 76.8pc more expensive in May than a year earlier. The increase was moderate compared to rises in February and March, when prices more than doubled. Industrial crop prices were up 21,4pc, including a 32,7pc rise in oil seed prices, and potato prices increased 34,1pc, each increase slowing from the previous months. Fruit prices jumped 70,6pc, more than in April. In contrast, prices of fresh vegetables fell 10,6pc after rising 4pc in April. Among livestock and animal product prices, prices in all product groups rose less – or, in the case of eggs, fell more – than in the previous month. The price of cattle for slaughter rose 49,6pc in the twelve months to May, the price of live hogs increased 12,1pc. Poultry prices were up 12,5pc and milk prices climbed 23,3pc. Fresh egg prices dropped 3,1pc from a year earlier. In January-May, crop prices rose 59,7pc and livestock and animal product prices were up 15,7pc from a year earlier.