Higher global food prices have significant implications for poverty in low-income countries. Recent increases in staple food prices have benefited food sellers, many of whom are poor, while hurting food consumers, many of whom are also poor. The overall impact on poverty depends on the balance between these effects. Using household data from nine low-income countries, the study finds that higher food prices generally increase poverty, with larger and more frequent impacts than poverty reductions. The recent surge in food prices is likely to raise overall poverty in low-income countries. The study uses a methodological approach to analyze the short-run impacts of food price changes on household income and living costs. It considers two experiments: one examining the impact of a 10% price increase on individual commodities, and another analyzing the actual price changes between 2005 and 2007. The results show that higher food prices generally increase poverty, with the most significant impacts in countries like Nicaragua and Madagascar. In contrast, in countries like Vietnam and Peru, higher rice prices have reduced poverty, though this is offset by increases in other commodities. The study also considers the impact of wage changes due to food price increases. While wage impacts can reduce poverty in some cases, they generally do not reverse the overall adverse effect of higher food prices. The results indicate that the average impact of higher food prices on poverty is generally negative, with the poorest households being most affected. The study concludes that higher food prices are likely to increase poverty in low-income countries, particularly for the poor who spend a large portion of their income on staple foods. The findings highlight the need for policies to mitigate the adverse effects of rising food prices on poverty.Higher global food prices have significant implications for poverty in low-income countries. Recent increases in staple food prices have benefited food sellers, many of whom are poor, while hurting food consumers, many of whom are also poor. The overall impact on poverty depends on the balance between these effects. Using household data from nine low-income countries, the study finds that higher food prices generally increase poverty, with larger and more frequent impacts than poverty reductions. The recent surge in food prices is likely to raise overall poverty in low-income countries. The study uses a methodological approach to analyze the short-run impacts of food price changes on household income and living costs. It considers two experiments: one examining the impact of a 10% price increase on individual commodities, and another analyzing the actual price changes between 2005 and 2007. The results show that higher food prices generally increase poverty, with the most significant impacts in countries like Nicaragua and Madagascar. In contrast, in countries like Vietnam and Peru, higher rice prices have reduced poverty, though this is offset by increases in other commodities. The study also considers the impact of wage changes due to food price increases. While wage impacts can reduce poverty in some cases, they generally do not reverse the overall adverse effect of higher food prices. The results indicate that the average impact of higher food prices on poverty is generally negative, with the poorest households being most affected. The study concludes that higher food prices are likely to increase poverty in low-income countries, particularly for the poor who spend a large portion of their income on staple foods. The findings highlight the need for policies to mitigate the adverse effects of rising food prices on poverty.