Retail grocery food prices increased 2.1 percent in 1983, half the 1982 rate and the least in 16 years. The slowdown reflected abundant supplies of farm products, weak demand, and a smaller rise in processing and marketing costs. The farm value of USDA's market basket of foods declined 2.2 percent in 1983. Farm values for red meat products fell while farm values of poultry, eggs, and oilseed products rose. The farm-value share of a dollar spent at foodstores declined to 33 percent from 34 percent. The farm to retail price spread of USDA’s market basket of foods rose by 2.5 percent, the least in 11 years. Food industry marketing costs increased at half their 1982 rate, largely because of a slower rise in wages.