Macroeconomics Food Inflation Cools Off Slightly December data from China’s National Bureau of Statistics show food prices rose year-on-year by 17.4 percent as compared to December 2018. Pork prices as noted in last week’s report were up for the month by 97 percent on an annualized basis. Nonetheless, December saw the first retreat in food prices since February. Apart from pork, edible oil prices increased in December by 4.8 percent over the previous year, while prices for fresh vegetables and eggs jumped by 10.8 percent and 6.2 percent, respectively. The only reprieve involved fresh fruit, which fell by 8 percent compared with December 2018. China’s food inflation has been the main driver of the country&rsq...
What You Need to Know Today: The corn and soybean markets closed slightly higher in low-volume trade. The wheat market was mixed, with HRW continuing its downward trek on improved moisture. As expected, the bearish cattle on feed report drove down cattle prices and pulled hogs down with it. Mi...
USDA’s monthly cattle on feed report was released today. The total number of cattle on feed in feedlots with 1,000 head or more capacity amounted to 11.6 million head, 102 percent of last year. Source: USDA, WPI Placements were up, but part of that is attributable to persistent drought c...
Let’s return briefly to the fake meat hype cycle, now sitting somewhere in a dusty corner of your mind, not entirely forgotten. What happened to all those products, known as plant-based alternative proteins? They were supposed to be as good as real meat—cheaper, more environmentally...
From WPI Consulting
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.