May 26, 2014

USDA's monthly survey of refrigerated warehouses showed that overall stocks of beef, pork and chicken were down sharply compared to both last year and the five-year average.

As of the end of April, the total supply of beef, pork and poultry in cold storage in the US stood at 1.944 million pounds, down 17.5% from a year ago and 10.3% lower than the five-year average.

Beef inventories were 402.3 million pounds, down 21% from a year ago and 10.6% lower than the five-year average; pork inventories were 16.7% lower than a year ago and 2.9% lower than the five-year average; while at 8.5 million pounds, broiler inventories were 48% lower than a year ago and 55% lower than the five-year average.

The decline in cold storage stocks is an indication that the overall meat production in the US is on the decline.