Inside Report (5)

Burning the main course dinner may be an especially expensive mistake next year. Latest Department of Agriculture estimates foresee beef up 13 percent, poultry up 18 percent, and pork up 27 percent, with the bulk of the increases coming by mid- summer. Overall, food prices should rise 10 to 15 percent in 1981. "Bargains," like fresh fruit and vegetables, should be up only 8 percent.

Ripple effect: Egg prices may jump 17 percent as housewives make omelettes instead of hamburgers just when egg production slows down.m