Source: Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 10/24/17



Total frozen poultry supplies on Sept. 30 were up 1 percent from the previous month and up 8 percent from a year ago, according to USDA’s latest Cold Storage report. 

Total stocks of chicken were up 5 percent from August 2017, and up 7 percent from September 2016.

Meanwhile, total pounds of turkey in freezers were down 5 percent from last month but up 11 percent from Sept. 30, 2016, suggesting ample supply at Thanksgiving time.

As prices for red meat have moderated at retail, consumers have been buying more beef and pork, allowing poultry stocks to rise.

In fact, total red meat supplies in freezers were up 4 percent from the previous month but down 5 percent from last year. Total pounds of beef in freezers were up 2 percent from the previous month but down 6 percent from last year. Frozen pork supplies were up 7 percent from the previous month but down 4 percent from last year.

Stocks of pork bellies were up 9 percent from last month but down 17 percent from last year. Record-high prices for bacon at retail over the summer, which have not retreated far from those highs as the calendar has moved to autumn, are dampening consumer purchases as supply begins to ramp up considerably.

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