MOST VULNERABLE: Countries such as Japan are less affected as they are turning away from rice, but the poorest nations are hurting as prices rise
The soaring price of rice has triggered a supply and demand crunch that is hurting some of Asia's neediest nations, forcing them to spend more on imports, industry experts and officials say.

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BACK TO THE FUTURE? : US Global Investors fund manager Brian Hicks says the US could be headed into a period of stagnant growth and high inflation
Rising commodity costs and a slowing economy may be sending the US into a period of so-called "stagflation" like the 1970s, said Brian Hicks, who helps manage US$1.5 billion at US Global Investors Inc in San Antonio.

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