"Who Shrank the Economy? Food Prices Dent U.S. Growth," October 30, 2008. Alister Bull. Reuters.

"Inflation ate deeply into U.S. consumer spending in the third quarter, doing more harm to the economy than either slumping car sales or housing, but recent commodity price falls may support growth going forward....Consumer spending suffered its biggest pullback in the third quarter since 1980. But the subsequent decline in prices for food and gas could support growth in the fourth quarter, provided households can shrug off worry over job security and restore their spending."