WASHINGTON – This week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported that food prices will rise more than normal again in 2008, following this year’s sharp increase, The Dallas Morning News reports.

Products made with wheat, such as breads and crackers, and soybean oil, such as cooking oils and fried foods, will jump so much in 2008 that the cost of home cooking will rise up to 4.5 percent—a half percentage point more than forecasted in November.

While home cooking still remains less expensive than eating out, that gap is shrinking. 2007 will likely go on record as having one of the biggest advances in food prices since 1990 with an increase of 4 percent, USDA economists say. The USDA forecast for 2008 predicts at least a 3 percent rise.

However, not every food item will have higher prices next year. For example, eggs are predicted to decline by at least 2 percent after its 28 percent gain this year.

But cereals and baked goods will see the biggest advance, between 5.5 percent and 6.5 percent in 2008—that’s on top of the 4.3 percent rise expected for 2007. USDA economists point to rising wheat costs and lower supplies, in part because of an Australian drought.