Yesterday we wrote about the Q1 GDP numbers and the June employment reports in an article entitled Real GDP for Q1 Relying on AI Buildout, Held Back by Consumer Spending. That article mentioned that consumer spending had become a drag on GDP. Nonetheless, real GDP in Q1 was revised upward to 2.1 percent from the prior estimate of 1.6 percent based on net exports, inventories, and business investment, but those categories all offset a substantial revision to personal consumption.  Evidence of that can be seen in the red-hot beef market, where the Choice Cutout fell below its 2025 level for the first time on 24 June, ending its year-to-date premium over last year. Higher wholesale prices and cautious buying softened 2026 demand, compared...