World Perspectives

The Future of Loose Fiscal Policy and the Economy

Since the early 2000s, there has been plenty of discussion about whether monetary policy is too loose or too tight given the underlying economic conditions. It continues through today as the Fed tightened monetary policy to reign in inflation after the massive amounts of fiscal policy stimulus that came as a part of COVID recovery. From Q2 2022 to Q3 2023, interest rates increased by a total of 525 basis points, but inflation has remained “sticky” into 2024. That brings up another perhaps more pertinent topic of discussion: “loose” fiscal policy, i.e. large deficits. At the end of 2023, the current federal deficit was 6.3 percent of GDP, down from the COVID peak of 14.7 percent, but still the highest since the Great...

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WPI Transportation Report

Dry-Bulk Markets  In paper dry-bulk markets, the Capesize sector increased slightly this week on stronger demand from miners, but the move was insufficient to support the Panamax or Supramax markets, which turned lower. Most of the dry bulk markets are simply waiting for the economies of C...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Volatility But Stability

It was a very active open this morning with lots of lead changes as corn and soybean traders wrestled over whether bears or bulls were in control. Even winter wheat, which looked solidly in the green took a brief turn south. Volumes were robust and trade volatile but in the end, only bean oil a...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Export Sale

Export Sales and Shipments for May 23-29, 2025  Wheat: Net sales reductions of 49,100 metric tons (MT) for 2024/2025. Export shipments of 540,100 MT were up 8 percent from the previous week and 20 percent from the prior 4-week average. The destinations were primarily to Indonesia (81,100 M...

WPI Transportation Report

Dry-Bulk Markets  In paper dry-bulk markets, the Capesize sector increased slightly this week on stronger demand from miners, but the move was insufficient to support the Panamax or Supramax markets, which turned lower. Most of the dry bulk markets are simply waiting for the economies of C...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Volatility But Stability

It was a very active open this morning with lots of lead changes as corn and soybean traders wrestled over whether bears or bulls were in control. Even winter wheat, which looked solidly in the green took a brief turn south. Volumes were robust and trade volatile but in the end, only bean oil a...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Export Sale

Export Sales and Shipments for May 23-29, 2025  Wheat: Net sales reductions of 49,100 metric tons (MT) for 2024/2025. Export shipments of 540,100 MT were up 8 percent from the previous week and 20 percent from the prior 4-week average. The destinations were primarily to Indonesia (81,100 M...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Jul 25 Corn closed at $4.395/bushel, up $0.0075 from yesterday's close.  Jul 25 Wheat closed at $5.455/bushel, up $0.0225 from yesterday's close.  Jul 25 Soybeans closed at $10.5175/bushel, up $0.0675 from yesterday's close.  Jul 25 Soymeal closed at $297.1/short ton, up $0 from...

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From WPI Consulting

Forecasting developments in production agriculture

On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.

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