Thanks for all the good comments.

Myscha, glad to do companion pieces on the rising price of bread.

Jill, you're right that rising demand in Asia and elsewhere is a big factor in rising milk prices.

Good point, Kacie--I think part of the reason that I saw milk powder as so expensive was that I probably did my comparison when there was a sale on milk. If I'd done it when there was a sale on nonfat dry milk instead, I'd have gotten a very different answer. (On the other hand, it seems like milk is always on sale around here, whereas nonfat dry milk never is. Still, it's the price you actually pay that matters, not some theoretical "normal" price.)

Sunny, there are an incredible array of government programs to support milk prices, and cutting down on the supply is one way to do that. It's nothing new.

Thanks again, everyone.