Coffee consumption bucks crisis. According to economists' latest forecasts, coffee consumption will only fall by 1.2% in the period 2008-09 (mid September) due to a decline in demand from emerging countries, particularly those in Eastern Europe. In developed countries, which account for 58% of consumption worldwide, coffee has become an ordinary consumer product and it is unlikely that demand there will fall, although consumption in cafés and product quality has fallen slightly. In coffee producer countries (26% of the world's demand), the trend is upward, especially in Brazil. Production: the upmarket coffee demand (Arabica) is experiencing a definite rise in prices ($1.37 per pound, 23% more than in March this year) due to higher production costs and bad weather conditions affecting harvests. (I.L./transl.rh)