World Perspectives

Weaker Consumer Finances Darken Economic Outlook, Despite Interest Rate Cuts

The past two weeks have seen the typical influx of macroeconomic data releases, most of which helped prompt the Federal Reserve to issue its 50-bps interest rate cut on Wednesday. While the interest rate cut was initially viewed as a positive signal (lower interest rates generally increase economic activity), history suggests rate cuts can precede market corrections or recessions. This is highly dependent on other factor at play in the economy, which WPI attempts to examine here.  WPI looks at macroeconomics through three primary lenses: national-level factors, consumer income and finances, and consumer spending. The first, national-level factors, includes items such as stock market valuation, the Treasury yield curve, and the inflati...

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Market Commentary: Mixed Volume, Mixed Outcomes

Agricultural futures were mixed today with generally higher volume except in soybeans and corn. Traders were cautious not to get out ahead of their skis given the historical propensity for USDA’s January WASDE report to contain curve balls (see below). New sales of soybeans to China made...

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Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.46/bushel, down $0.0075 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.18/bushel, up $0 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soybeans closed at $10.6125/bushel, down $0.0575 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soymeal closed at $303.6/short ton, down $1.8 from...

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Livestock Round Up: 2025 Dietary Guidelines, Meat is Back

The USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The headline developments were a direct reversal of the 2015 guidelines, which were the first to not include a recommendation to consume meat based in part on sustai...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Market Commentary: Mixed Volume, Mixed Outcomes

Agricultural futures were mixed today with generally higher volume except in soybeans and corn. Traders were cautious not to get out ahead of their skis given the historical propensity for USDA’s January WASDE report to contain curve balls (see below). New sales of soybeans to China made...

feed-grains soy-oilseeds wheat

Summary of Futures

Mar 26 Corn closed at $4.46/bushel, down $0.0075 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Wheat closed at $5.18/bushel, up $0 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soybeans closed at $10.6125/bushel, down $0.0575 from yesterday's close.  Mar 26 Soymeal closed at $303.6/short ton, down $1.8 from...

livestock

Livestock Round Up: 2025 Dietary Guidelines, Meat is Back

The USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released the 2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The headline developments were a direct reversal of the 2015 guidelines, which were the first to not include a recommendation to consume meat based in part on sustai...

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Oilseed Highlights: Oilseed Demand Slumps while Vegoils Rise

The Market  With just two days left before the January WASDE, the soy complex is trading above week-ago levels, but that fact belies the weakness that has enveloped the market since late November. Skepticism over China’s long-term commitment to U.S. soybean purchases – especial...

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From WPI Consulting

Accountability and a comprehensive approach to export programming

WPI’s team helped construct a strategic approach to develop, implement, and track promotional activities in 8 key regions across the globe for an agricultural export association. With continued progress measurement and strategic advisory services from WPI, the association has seen its ROI from investments in promotional programming increase by 44 percent over the past 5 years. Not only does this type of holistic approach to organizational strategy provide measurable results to track and analyze, it fosters top-down and bottom-up organizational accountability.

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