The prices for major agricultural commodities showed a mixed picture in December 2009 according to the European Commission. While prices for wheat, maize, barley, skimmed milk powder, butter and beef increased in comparison to the previous month, pork and poultry meat prices dropped. Compared to 12 months earlier most product prices were still considerably below their previous level (soft wheat -6%, barley -7%, beef -2%, pork -9%, poultry -11%) with bulk dairy products exceeding last year’s price levels clearly.