U.S. Food-Inflation Forecast Raised to 3.5%-4.5%

``Consumers will pay 3.5 percent to 4.5 percent more for food this year than in 2010, up from a September forecast of 3 percent to 4 percent, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said today in a monthly report. The increase was the first by the USDA since February. Fresh-fruit prices will advance 3 percent to 4 percent, gaining a full percentage point from last month's forecast. ''