Global goods trade was expected to pick up gradually this year following a contraction in 2023 that was driven by the lingering effects of high energy prices and inflation, WTO economists said in a new forecast this month. The volume of world merchandise trade could increase by 2.6% in 2024 and 3.3% in 2025 after … Read More

One reason fed steer prices are fading may be because the ones being sold to packers are larger, producing more meat per head and reducing the slaughter need. A look at USDA data compiled and published by the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver shows that carcass weights of slaughtered steers and heifers remain well … Read More

For the fifth straight week, large commodity index funds, known as managed money, divested themselves of part of their collective net long live cattle futures position. At the same time, cattle owner, known as commercial traders, covered part of their total net short live cattle futures position. The information came from the weekly Commitments of … Read More

The Federal Reserve’s Beige Book this week said overall economic activity expanded slightly, on balance, since late February. Ten out of the 12 Federal Reserve districts reported either slight or modest economic growth—up from eight in the previous report–while the other two reported no changes.   CONSUMER SPENDING UP   Consumer spending barely increased overall, … Read More

Unlike other beef cuts, wholesale prices for fresh 90% lean beef keep rising, setting record highs in each of the last seven weeks. USDA wholesale price data compiled and published by the Livestock Marketing Information Center in Denver, showed a weekly wholesale beef price of $346.86 per cwt, up $2.05, or 0.59%, from $344.81 a … Read More

The USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service said in its monthly Livestock and Poultry: World Markets and Trade report that 2024 China beef, pork and chicken imports were forecast at 3 million tonnes less than the 2020 banner year. China’s share of global beef, pork and chicken exports was expected to account for only 17% of the … Read More

During the week ended last Tuesday, April 9, managed money sold live cattle futures as hedgers covered many of their short positions, according to data from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s weekly Commitments of Traders report Friday.   MANAGED MONEY SELLS CATTLE   As of last Tuesday, managed money, a moniker for large commodity index … Read More