From wheat to milk, the prices of many commodities have fallen because of lower demand during the recession.

As a result, York County shoppers paid less for groceries this October than last, according to a price comparison done by The York Dispatch.

The comparison looks at the non-promotional, non-club-card price of 17 common items found at four area grocery stores.

But while prices for the year are down an average of $1.69, they've rebounded some after a substantial drop between October 2008 and April. Since April, prices have increased $1.87.

It cost an average of $64.98 to buy the items, ranging from coffee to toilet paper, in April. Last month, it cost $66.85 to buy the same staples, in part because of the rebound of commodities

such as meat, milk and sugar.

The price of whole milk increased an average of 41 cents at the four stores in the last six months. A gallon of milk went from as little as about $3 per gallon in April to as much as $3.66 per gallon last month, still a few dimes cheaper than the $4 it was fetching last October.

On the rise: The York Dispatch compares prices at a Giant Food store, a Shur-Fine, a Weis and a Wal-Mart.

The price at Wal-Mart increased the most, by $3.10 over the past six months. But the retail giant still posted the lowest overall price in York County, $62.02 for the 17 items.

The total bill at Giant -- which had the second-lowest overall price -- increased the least, by $1.03 since April.

Sugar and milk made up a majority of the increase.

A five-pound bag of Domino sugar increased an average of 39 cents, reaching a high of $3.29 at one store.

Weis Markets spokesman Dennis Curtin said a worldwide shortage of sugar has decreased supply and increased price.

A number of factors -- demand, deflation and abundance among them -- can cause price fluctuations for a commodity, he said.

Such is the story with milk.

Over the past year, there was an oversupply of milk because the dairy industry lost markets during the recession.

For example, a slowdown in the number of people eating at restaurants in the U.S. caused a decrease in the demand for milk, said John Frey, executive director of the Pennsylvania Center for Dairy Excellence.

The decreased demand increased relative supply, which pushed down prices.

April's price was near bottom for the dairy industry, which has since tightened the milk supply, he said.

Bargain shopping: Giant Food Store shopper Marley Hoffmaster of York Township joked that she'll avoid making pound cake or other desserts that contain lots of milk and sugar.

"It's always a trade off," she said. "One thing goes up, one thing goes down. As long as gas isn't crazy, it doesn't all cost more at once."

Hoffmaster said she had just spent $140 on her weekly grocery outing for her family of three, and that's with her Bonus Card discount.

Giant Food Stores spokeswoman Tracy Pawelski said prices are generally on the decline in Giant supermarkets when the increased store brand offerings and club card deals are considered.

There are more promotions from manufacturers who are trying to compete with the low prices of store brands, which have become more popular since the start of the recession, she said.

The newspaper comparison uses only the "everyday" price of items, not promotions.

Curtin said prices are also falling at Weis, which put in place a "price freeze" on 2,600 items. The freeze expired Wednesday.

-- Reach Christina Kauffman at 505-5436 or ckauffman@yorkdispatch.com.