US retail pork prices in December were generally lower, excluding bacon, from the month previous however held above year-ago prices. Bacon prices improved +1.1% to $6.92/lb which is up +2.1% over last year, while chops fell -2.8% in the latest data to $4.31/lb and is +1.2% over year-ago prices. Retail hams dropped -3.4% to $4.41/lb from the previous month and is up a modest +0.1% over a year earlier, while the category accounting for all other pork declined -2.9% from November prices to $3.66/lb and brings the category +0.4% over year-ago prices. Monthly wholesale pork values were mixed from November into the last month of the year, however US pork cutout for the month of December ended -3.4% lower on the month to $93.40/cwt but up +11.8% over year-ago values. Wholesale loins declined -1.0% from November and the latest month's values are -1.7% under last year, while ribs fell -10.8% on the month but is +20.0% over year-ago values and bellies dropped -20.3% from November but is +31.7% over last year. Wholesale butts climbed +1.7% from the previous month but is down -0.7% on the year, while picnics improved +5.9% from November but is -0.8% under year-ago values and wholesale hams rose +8.6% in December and is +23.1% over last year.
US retail beef prices for the month of December were primarily lower from the previous month though continue at elevated levels overall compared to a year earlier. Uncooked ground edged -0.2% lower to $5.86/lb which is +5.3% over last year while roasts improved +1.6% to $7.72/lb bringing them +5.0% over a year earlier. Beef steaks slipped -0.4% to $10.63/lb which is down a modest -0.2% under a year earlier, while the category accounting for all other beef (not veal) prices fell -2.0% to $6.95/lb but is up +0.6% over year-ago prices. Wholesale beef values improved overall in December with choice cutout up +1.9% to $315.68/cwt and +8.3% over a year earlier, while select cutout rose +2.2% on the month to $283.74/cwt and up +8.9% over last year.
US retail broiler prices at $2.43/lb for December improved +0.5% on the month but is a modest -0.3% under a year earlier, while wholesale broiler values for the same period climbed +0.6% from a month earlier to $1.09/lb which is +14.9% over last year.
