This is because the profitability of goods is determined by input costs.

"This is a confirmation that higher input cost or raw materials gains are coming through to the consumer level."

Products can be produced safely and profitably with low input costs.

Enterprises cannot usually do very much about reducing their fixed input costs, because these are rarely under their control.

With input costs doubling in the past five years, farming and ranching is riskier than ever.

Costs are believed to be almost 10pc higher than the last raw materials peak in 2008, with input costs having doubled since 2005.

Energy is not only an input cost, but higher energy prices also increase the price of other raw materials.

In most categories, from yield to input costs, the performance difference averaged 5 percent or less.

The majority of input costs are composed of materials and labor.

It is also important to limit data input costs. Indeed this is essential for small and medium-sized enterprises.