The U.S. Census Bureau’s monthly advance retail sales report, released last week, shows growth in restaurant and grocery store sales is slowing. The first notable point in the report was that total retail sales were up 3.16 percent in May versus the same period in 2018. Their overall robust growth suggests the backbone of the U.S. economy, consumer spending, is healthy and should support economic expansion.
More germane to agriculture, sales for grocery stores and food service establishments (“bars and restaurants” in non-government statistical language) were down 0.1 percent and up 0.71 percent, respectively, from April. More telling, however, are the improvements over last May’s figures with grocery store sales...
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...
Monday, 25 May is a U.S. holiday, and both the markets and our office will be closed. Please note that the next issue of Ag Perspectives will be published on Tuesday, 26 May. The WPI staff wishes everyone a safe and enjoyable holiday weekend...
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...
