Gas prices aren't the only recent hit to Triangle residents' pocket books; food prices are going up too. According to the US Department of Agriculture, all food prices are expected to increase by about five percent in 2008. The USDA blames the increase on the increased cost of energy and transportation.

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In the Triangle, people are looking for sales, and taking a second look at those coupon books they once threw away. "Well, they're going out the roof. They just keep going up and up," said supermarket shopper Peggy Sanford. "If you base what you eat on sales, rather than 'I have to have this,' I think everybody would do better," she added.

At the Durham Food Co-Op, members are facing tough economic times of their own. The Co-op is planning to become a buyers club to save on money. Members will order items out of a catalog in bulk and the store will add a minimal fee.

Duke Economist John Coleman says the rise in food prices come from more than just increased fuel and transportation costs. He says government subsidies to farmers have caused the prices to be unnaturally high.

"They (the government) pay farmers not to produce certain types of food," Coleman said. "So when there's a demand, there's not that increase in food that can satisfy that demand."

Coleman said a short-term solution is as simple as growing more food. "Food is something you can produce more of by just devoting more resources to it, so as long as the economic incentives are there, agricultural production will rise," Coleman said.

Coleman said a more long-term solution to both high fuel costs and food costs is to invest in newer, more efficient technology.

Related Links:

USDA Food Price Analysis:

• http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/cpifoodandexpenditures/consumerpriceindex.htm 

Coupons Online:

• http://coupons.smartsource.com//index.aspx?Link=5S2ZUA6PWPEPO
• http://www.couponmom.com/

Local Farmers Markers:

• RALEIGH: http://www.consultwebs.com/farmers_market/
• DURHAM: http://www.durhamfarmersmarket.com/
• CARRBRRO: http://www.carrborofarmersmarket.com/

 Local Co-Ops:

• DURHAM: http://www.durhamfoodcoop.org/
• DIRECTORY: http://www.coopdirectory.org/directory.htm#North%20Carolina