Global Demand

Demand

     The price outlook to producers can be summarized as I have said before by observing "which falls faster, supply or demand".  It is clear that both are falling, nationally and domestically, and the price responses still seem to suggest demand is falling faster than supply but a slowing is beginning to take place.  There seems to be some traction developing and as everyone in this business knows, spring is the beginning of the annual reduction in supply as various biological factors begin working their way through the production complex and summer demand for certain cuts begins to increase, at least domestically.  We have experienced years when the season price pattern for spring does not develop so it is not a sure thing.

USDA Food Price Inflation Projections for 2008 Have Just Been...Inflated.

The USDA has just raised its expected food inflation numbers to 6% for 2008 on the heels of a 4.2% increase for 2007.

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=2008/05/0130.xml

My best guess is that they will be back to the well to up that again by the end of the summer. The projections show the greatest increase in food prepared at home with eggs, dairy and fats and oils categories leading the charge. Pork is estimated to increase only 1-2 percent this year.

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