Delta President Ed Bastian emphasized that the airline will do what is needed to offset jet fuel costs now expected to be about $900 million higher than was projected earlier this year.

"We're reducing capacity. We're going to get the costs out of the system," Bastian said in an interview. "Unfortunately, there's a need to reduce the work force by about 2,000 employees."

The thick and thin crust creations at Ciro's Pizza Café wouldn't measure up without good flour and cheese, so Rob Marvin grits his teeth and pays the record prices being charged for them.

He spends $469 a week on flour alone, up from $156 six months ago. Next month, he predicts the tab will grow to $625 a week. So far, he hasn't dared to raise prices out of concern that he'll lose business to rivals.

The wheat is being bought to feed not only people but also poultry, cattle and dairy cows.

While demand has surged, supplies are down. U.S. farmers have been growing less wheat, opting to plant corn and reap government incentives meant to ramp up the nation's ethanol supply. At the same time, wheat farmers in other parts of the world have brought in poor harvests, and the cost of getting wheat to market has soared because of rising fuel prices.