Dollar’s slide adds to rise in energy, food prices; outlook for ‘08 is unclear

NEW YORK


Dave Minucci listens to the chatter on Wall Street about the flagging dollar but doesn’t have to look far to cast his own assessment. A recent home heating bill was $120 higher than at the same time last year. But Minucci doesn’t blame lower temperatures; the chill he feels is from higher energy prices and a weaker dollar.

He sees what many Americans may not realize: With commodities from oil to natural gas to grain to meat priced in dollars and becoming more expensive as the greenback falls, consumers have to take more out of their wallets to simply buy the same amount of goods. And a lower dollar can also raise the cost of imported goods