RELENTLESS SUMMER: Corn raced to a record high price as the hot, dry weather relentlessly pounded crops. Soybeans also rose. Expectations continue to mount that harvests will be smaller than anticipated for both crops.

PUMP IT UP: Natural gas jumped 6.6 percent as utilities bought more of the fuel to generate electricity during the hot summer. The recent jump in prices probably won't impact utility bills because utilities lock in prices to protect themselves.

MIXED BAG: Prices for gold, silver, wheat and gasoline rose. Oil, heating oil and copper prices fell.