Commodities update -- Week of Nov. 2, 2009

Commodities update -- Week of Nov. 2, 2009
Tags: Operations Management
November 1, 2009 - Jennifer Litz

Block cheese prices on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange averaged slightly over $1.50 per pound, up 5 cents from the previous week. Block cheese closed at $1.50 per pound Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, just under $1.51 on Thursday and at $1.51 on Friday. Prices are off 16 cents, or 9 percent, compared with this time last year, when block cheese averaged $1.64 per pound. Wheat Wheat for December delivery closed at $5.13 per bushel Friday on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, down from the previous week's close of $5.60. Prices for wheat for December delivery closed at $5.46 per bushel on Monday, $5.27 per bushel on Tuesday, $5.19 per bushel Wednesday and $5.24 per bushel Thursday. Gasoline and diesel fuel The nationwide average for regular unleaded gasoline was $2.69 per gallon Nov. 2, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service, up 2 cents from the previous week. Prices are up 9 percent from an average of $2.46 per gallon a month ago and up 11 percent from an average of $2.44 per gallon this time last year. Mid-range unleaded currently averages $2.86 per gallon while premium unleaded stands at $2.96 per gallon as of Nov. 2. The nationwide average price for diesel fuel stands at $2.84 per gallon Nov. 2, up 3 cents from last week. Diesel prices are off 13 percent from an average of $3.27 per gallon this time last year. Natural gas For the week of Oct. 21 to Oct. 28, natural gas prices posted decreases at both the spot and futures markets, according to the Energy Information Administration. Spot prices fell at virtually all market locations in the lower 48 States, with decreases ranging between 6 and 46 cents per million Btu (MMBtu). However, a couple trading locations did post gains this week. The price at the Henry Hub spot market fell 21 cents or about 4 percent, ending trading yesterday at $4.59 per MMBtu.

Pizza company stocks Shares in Pizza Hut parent Yum! Brands Inc. closed at $32.95 on Oct. 30, down $1.34 compared with the previous week's close of $34.29. YUM traded at a 52-week high of $36.96 in June 2009 and a 52-week low of $21.50 in November 2008. Domino's closed at $7.34, off 56 cents compared with the previous Friday's close of $7.90. Over the past 52 weeks, DPZ has traded as high as $10.07 in June 2009 and as low as $2.61 in November 2008. Papa John's stock closed at $22.50, off $1.04 cents compared with the previous Friday's close of $23.54. PZZA traded at a 52-week high of $29.25 in May 2009 and a 52-week low of $12.78 in November 2008. Shares in CEC Entertainment Inc., parent company of Chuck E. Cheese restaurants, closed at $29.21, up $3.65 compared with the previous week's close of $25.56. CEC traded at a 52-week high of $39.59 in July 2009 and a 52-week low of $12.96 in November 2008. California Pizza Kitchen closed at $12.99 on Oct. 30, off 62 cents compared with the previous week's close of $13.61. CPKI has traded as high as $17.44 in mid-April and as low as $5.24 in November 2008. Pizza Inn closed at $1.70 on Oct. 30, down 5 cents from the previous week. PZZI traded at a 52-week high of $2.72 in November 2008 and a 52-week low of 98 cents in April 2009.