The weekly wholesale price difference between USDA choice and select grades of beef has narrowed the last two weeks but remains wider than either last year or the 2019-2023 average. Overall, the difference, or the choice/select spread, remains on an seasonally widening trajectory that won’t level out until late June, according to USDA Agricultural Marketing … Read More

During the week ended Tuesday, managed money turned and began extending their collective net long live cattle futures position.  At the same time, cattle owners lengthened their total net short position. The data came from the weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.   MANAGED MONEY BUYS CATTLE   Tuesday, … Read More

Total red meat supplies in freezers on March 31 were down about 1% from the previous month and down about 4% from last year, the USDA said Thursday in its monthly Cold Storage report. Total frozen poultry supplies on March 31 were up about 1% from the previous month but down about 3% from a … Read More

Economic activity increased slightly to moderately across the twelve Federal Reserve districts in late November and December, said the Federal Reserve Bank’s Beige Book Wednesday. The report, which is published eight times a year, went on to say consumer spending moved up moderately, with most districts reporting strong holiday sales that exceeded expectations.   OVERAL … Read More

Capital markets are essential for driving economic activity, providing mechanisms for raising funds and allocating resources efficiently, said Tobias Adrian, managing editor for the International Monetary Fund blog. In the blog, Adrian went on to say market and financial-institution stability are, therefore, very critical, especially when market volatility and economic uncertainty are high, as they … Read More

Amid the continued high consumer demand for beef that has surprised many, investors should be aware that public financial sentiment matters, said Glynn Tonsor, agricultural economist at Kansas State University, in a commentary for the Livestock Marketing Information Center. Things can change quickly.   SENTIMENT DECLINING   Friday, April 11,, the University of Michigan released … Read More

For the second straight week, managed money, a moniker for large commodity index firms, divested themselves of their net long live cattle futures positions. In reporting the activity of major trader classifications in its weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission said cattle owners, or commercial traders, covered many of their … Read More