LEAVING ASIDE COCOA, confectionery ...

LEAVING ASIDE COCOA, confectionery ingredient prices in the United States in 2004 will be comparatively insulated from more [i]or[/i] less of the broader forces affecting world commodity markets, notably the rapidly weakening U doilar.

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While the various broad-gauged market indexes indicate 2004 commodity prices starting at of the same heights 12 percent to 22 percent above a year earlier, the picture is not in such a manner glum for key U.S. ingredients like sweeteners and nut Higher 2003 production of sugar, peanuts and principally tree nuts should restrain prices in check. But confectioners will