Beijing could have easily foreseen the error in its farm policy had it just looked at the European and American experiences with guaranteeing high prices to farmers. Food Tribe Gullibles Nobel economists Robert Shiller and Roger Akerloff have a new book entitled Phishing for Phools: The Economics of Manipulation and Deception, which basically declares the average consumer so inept that bad actors in the market easily play them for the fools they are. In short, they don't know the meaning of caveat emptor. Food editor Jenna Blumenfield interprets things differently, arguing that the Paleo, gluten-free Freegans of the world are an important source of innovation as their passion influences others. The problem is that no one, including govern...
What You Need to Know Today: After a period of limited activity, USDA reported a sizeable 613 KMT in soybean export sales, including 330 KMT to China and 283 KMT to unknown destinations, potentially also China. The purchases represent a meaningful pickup in demand and bring China closer to ful...
Key Takeaways: Consumer spending is a key driver of the U.S. economy, and the latest retail sales data indicate that spending remains robust despite inflation. In September, total retail and food service sales rose more than 6 percent year-over-year, with food service spending up 7 percent and...
The Trump import plan for 300,000 MT of beef supplies used for ground beef, i.e., lean trim, from September through November has, according to Secretary Brooke Rollins, brought some relief to beef prices. The Executive Order states that the Secretary of Agriculture will analyze and review the m...
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.