The seasonally-adjusted price index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs hit an all-time high in May, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
In January 1967, when the BLS started tracking this measure, the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs was 38.1. As of last May, it was 234.572. By this January, it hit 240.006. By April, it hit 249.362. And, in May, it climbed to a record 252.832.
“The index for meats, poultry, fish and eggs has risen 7.7 percent over the span [last year],” says the BLS. “The index for food at home increased 0.7 percent, its largest increase since July 2011. Five of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased in May. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 1.4 percent in May after a 1.5 increase in April, with virtually all its major components increasing,” BLS states.
More @ CNS News
I raise a few beef at our place, dairy beef.
ReplyDeleteAnyone know why feeder prices have shot through the roof? Used to be you could get a 3day old calf for @ninety bucks. (about .85cents/lb). Lately, they have been $3./lb - which leaves you with a $300 hole in your pocket before you even put any money in to feed them. Fats are going for $1.50/Holsteins,which is still high. Blacks (angus and herefeords) are going for 2.25/lb.
Still doesn't make sense for an animal that has 18-24 of growing and feeding to be that high in price.
My only thought is that they are 'discouraging' us little guys (who have 100 or less head) from continuing.
I'll bet money on it. My father, although a country doctor, also had beef cattle farms. Whitefaces as we used to call them. :) His father owned a huge amount of property around Manquin, Virginia and all his sons farmed. I asked my cousin what it would take to get into farming today and he said the only way you could be successful was if you were given all the land, equipment, etcetera and then it would still be touch and go.
Delete