Article

An overall 'up' week, aside from Domino's and natural gas

Prices were up for just about everything this week, except for natural gas in the Northeastern U.S. and Domino's, both of which fell.

May 31, 2016 by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

Prices were up for just about everything this week, except for natural gas in the Northeastern U.S. and Domino's, both of which fell. It's likely that news of the New York suit against Domino's and a handful of its franchisees contributed to its stock hit. The official start of summer and nicer weather likely contributed to the decline in natural gas prices, everywhere aside from the cooler Northeastern states. 

Cheese

Average block cheese prices increased 6 cents during the week on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Prices were $1.32 Monday, $1.34 Tuesday and Wednesday, and $1.38 Thursday and $1.38 Friday. The previous week's prices were $1.28 Monday and $1.28 Tuesday, and $1.32 Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Wheat

Wheat futures remained unchanged at $5.28 from the previous week on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange.

Gasoline and diesel fuel

Monday's nationwide average for regular unleaded gasoline increased 3 cents on the week to $2.32 a gallon, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.

Prices are up from $2.21 a month ago, and are significantly lower than this time last year, when consumers were paying $2.74 at the pump.

Mid-range was up 4 cents from last week to $2.56, while Monday's premium unleaded price was $2.79, up 4 cents from last week.

The nationwide average for diesel fuel increased to $2.32, up 4 cents from $2.28 last week. Diesel prices were also $2.19 a month ago, and 56 cents down from a year ago, when prices were $2.88.

Natural gas

Natural gas spot prices fell at most locations outside of the northeastern United States this report week (Wednesday, May 18, to Wednesday, May 25). The Henry Hub spot price fell by 14 cents, from $1.91 per million British thermal unit (MMBtu) last Wednesday to $1.77/MMBtu yesterday.

At the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), the June 2016 contract price fell slightly from $2.001/MMBtu last Wednesday to $1.992/MMBtu yesterday.

Pizza company stocks

Shares in Pizza Hut parent Yum! Brands Inc closed at $82.59, up 14 cents from the previous close.

Domino's stock plummeted, down 82 cents to $122.18.

Papa John's rose sharply to $63.41, up 74 cents.

Shares in Papa Murphy's closed Friday at $7.62, up a cent. 

About S.A. Whitehead

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Pizza Marketplace and QSRweb editor Shelly Whitehead is a former newspaper and TV reporter with an affinity for telling stories about the people and innovative thinking behind great brands.