US retail pork prices in January were primarily higher on the month, excluding chops, and held above year-ago prices. Bacon prices improved +1.9% to $7.04/lb which is up +6.5% over last year, while chops fell -1.4% in the latest data to $4.25/lb but is +0.3% over year-ago prices. Retail hams edged +0.1% higher to $4.41/lb from the previous month and is up only slightly compared to a year earlier, while the category accounting for all other pork climbed +1.3% from December prices to $3.70/lb and brings the category +2.7% over year-ago prices. Monthly wholesale pork values were mixed from December into the first month of the year, however US pork cutout for the month of January ended -2.5% lower on the month to $97.73/cwt but up +4.7% over year-ago values. Wholesale hams dropped -18.1% from December however the latest month's values are +6.3% above a year earlier, while picnics fell -16.0% on the month and is -2.7% under year-ago values and butts slipped -0.8% from December but is +5.7% over last year. Wholesale loinds edged +0.2% higher from the previous month but is down -2.7% on the year, while ribs improved +4.9% from December and is +17.0% over year-ago values and wholesale bellies jumped +16.9% in January and is +8.3% over last year.
US retail beef prices varied on the month for January however were recorded above year-ago prices. Uncooked ground slipped -0.7% lower to $5.82/lb which is +6.3% over last year while roasts were nearly unchanged at $7.72/lb bringing them +6.2% over a year earlier. Beef steaks were up +2.6% to $10.91/lb which is up +2.0% compared to a year earlier, while the category accounting for all other beef (not veal) prices edged -0.3% lower to $6.93/lb and is up a modest +0.1% over year-ago prices. Wholesale beef values improved overall in January with choice cutout rising +4.6% to $330.26/cwt and +13.6% over a year earlier, while select cutout jumped +10.7% on the month to $314.06/cwt and up +13.9% over last year.
US retail broiler prices at $2.43/lb for January dipped -0.3% lower on the month but is a modest +0.1% over a year earlier, while wholesale broiler values for the same period climbed +0.3% from a month earlier to $1.11/lb which is +15.0% over last year.
