Cheese
Average block cheese prices didn’t budge last week on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, coming in at an average of $1.32, the same average as the week prior.
Cheese prices remain down from last year, when they averaged $1.63 per pound.
Wheat
Prices for wheat increased sharply on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, closing at $8.68 on Dec. 23. This is a 26-cent rise from the previous Friday, which closed at $8.42.
Wheat prices jumped around the week before Christmas, closing at $8.59 Dec. 20; $8.57 Dec. 21; and $8.69 Dec. 22.
Gasoline and diesel fuel
The nationwide average for regular unleaded gasoline was $3.04 on Monday, up 6 cents from the previous week’s average of $2.98, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.
Prices also are up from a month ago, when they were just below $2.88, and from this time last year, when consumers were paying $2.59 at the pump.
Mid-range unleaded currently averages $3.23, while premium unleaded on Monday was $3.34.
The nationwide average for diesel fuel stood at $3.29 per gallon Monday, a bit of an increase from last week’s $3.26. Diesel prices are up from $3.18 a month ago; and from $2.78 a year ago.
Natural Gas
Extreme cold weather conditions moving across the country boosted demand for space heating this report week, which is unchanged from the previous week. Spot prices nonetheless decreased in most markets (with the exception of several in the Northeast), likely influenced by storage for winter usage remaining near historical highs and very strong current supplies. During the report week, the Henry Hub spot price decreased 24 cents to $4.22 per million Btu (MMBtu).
Pizza company stocks
Shares in Pizza Hut parent Yum! Brands Inc. closed at $49.41 Dec. 23, slightly down from its closing of $50.05 on Dec. 17. Yum! traded at an all-time 52-week high of $52.47 in November 2010, and a 52-week low of $32.49 in February 2010.
Domino’s closed at $15.90 Dec. 23, up 5 cents from its $15.85 closing on Dec. 17. DPZ traded as high as $16.32 in April 2010, and as low as $7.57 in December 2009.
Papa John's stock closed at $27.53 Dec. 23, up more than $1 from its $26.40 closing on Dec. 17. PZZA traded at a 52-week high of $28.84 in May 2010, and a 52-week low of $21.44 in December 2009.
Shares in CEC Entertainment Inc., parent company of Chuck E. Cheese restaurants, closed at $39.64 Dec. 23, down a bit from $40.30 on Dec. 17. CEC traded at a 52-week high of $41.79 in April 2010, and a 52-week low of $28.48 in November 2009.
California Pizza Kitchen dropped to $17.48 Dec. 23 from its Dec. 17 closing of $17.63. CPKI traded as high as $22.92 in April 2010, and as low as $12.29 in December 2009.
Pizza Inn closed at $1.89 Dec. 23, down from its $1.97 closing Dec. 17. PZZI traded at a 52-week high of $2.20 in April 2010, and a 52-week low of $1.50 in December 2009.
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