Poultry
Poultry markets held mostly steady, with slight firmness in white meat and continued softness in thigh meat. Turkey remained elevated through the holiday period, while the egg market surged again due to rising HPAI cases. For operators watching food cost volatility, eggs remain the biggest swing item, while chicken continues to provide relative cost stability compared to last year.
Outlook: Chicken prices may trend upward as lower bird weights tighten supply. Turkey demand will fall sharply post-Thanksgiving, and eggs are likely to stay elevated until HPAI activity slows.
Beef
Beef markets delivered a mixed performance, with ribs and loins holding firm while chucks, rounds, and grinds softened. Choice and select cutouts eased slightly as pre-holiday buying slowed and supply pockets tightened. Operators may find short-term relief on everyday cuts that directly impact menu costing and portioning.
Outlook: Expect beef prices to trend lower next week before resetting ahead of December buying cycles.
Pork
Pork pricing declined across nearly every primal, including loins, ribs, hams, and trim. Export demand helped support boneless butts, but not enough to steady the full cutout. This broad downward movement creates near-term opportunities for operators focused on protein cost management and menu flexibility.
Outlook: Pork prices are projected to continue moving lower as demand remains soft and lean hog futures weaken.
Seafood
Lobster imports held consistent with expected seasonal behavior: record highs in March, a sharp spring correction, and stable pricing through the fall. While other seafood categories have seen volatility, lobster remains reliably cyclical, giving operators clear visibility for menu planning and forecasting.
Outlook: December typically offers softer pricing, and lobster is expected to follow that pattern again this year.
Produce
Iceberg lettuce recovered after last week’s dip, driven by continued tight supply in Western regions. Tomatoes moved slightly lower but stayed within seasonal expectations. Produce volatility is beginning to normalize, giving operators better predictability in planning prep, yields, and ordering.
Outlook: Iceberg prices should start a more sustained decline as supplies improve, while tomato prices are expected to stabilize soon.
Dairy
Dairy markets were mixed: cheese continued slipping, butter moved higher, and milk pricing stayed steady. Inventories remain manageable, and production is consistent, while strong export interest is putting upward pressure on butter. Operators may see cheese costs easing slightly in recipe costing and inventory valuation.
Outlook: Cheese is expected to remain soft in the short term. Butter remains the category to watch due to strong global demand.
Grains
Grains saw a burst of market activity after the USDA reopened and released a backlog of export data along with the delayed WASDE report. Export demand stayed strong, but higher yield projections cooled some of the bullish momentum. For operators, grain trends can influence costs tied to flour, corn-based products, and feed-driven protein pricing.
Outlook: Corn’s recent rally may ease as markets reset expectations around improved yield.
