Article

Average cost of wheat inches up

Gas prices have stayed steady for the past two weeks, despite a busy holiday weekend.

September 8, 2014 by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

Cheese prices continued on an upward trajectory last week on the Chicago Mercantile. Wheat prices also inched up throughout the week, despite having a one-day break for the Labor Day holiday.

Here's a glimpse at the market this week.

Cheese

Average block cheese prices jumped another 5 cents last week on the Chicago Mercantile, averaging $2.35, from $2.30 the week prior. Cheese was $1.99 a month and a half ago.

Prices last week were $2.35 Tuesday through Friday. The markets were closed Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

Wheat

Wheat prices also increased last week on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, averaging $6.22, from $6.13 the week prior. Wheat flirted with $8 in Q2 of this year.

Last week's prices closed at $6.18 Tuesday, $6.24 Wednesday, $6.22 Thursday and $6.26 on Friday.

Gasoline and diesel fuel

Monday's nationwide average for regular unleaded gasoline was $3.43, steady from $3.43 the week prior. Gas prices were $3.47 a month ago. Consumers were paying $3.57 at the pump this time last year, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service. 

Mid-range unleaded was $3.63 on Monday, while the premium unleaded price was $3.80.

The nationwide average for diesel fuel was $3.79, a penny down from $3.80 the week prior. Diesel prices are also down from $3.82 a month ago and $3.94 a year ago.

Natural Gas

Spot prices fell at most trading locations across the country for this report week (Aug. 27 to Sept. 3). The Henry Hub spot price fell from $3.99 per million British thermal unit (MMBtu) Aug. 27 to $3.94/MMBtu Sept. 3.

At the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), the near-month (October 2014) contract fell from $4.003/MMBtu Aug. 27 to $3.847/MMBtu Sept. 3.

Pizza company stocks

Shares in Pizza Hut parent Yum! Brands Inc. closed out last Friday at $71.68, down slightly from $72.31 the week prior. Yum’s 52-week high of $83.58 was reached in July. Its low of $64.08 was a year ago.

Domino's finished last week at $75.38, up from $75.26 the week prior. DPZ hit its 52-week high of $80.61 in March. The company’s 52-week low of $62.04 was a year ago.

Papa John's finished out last week at $39.86, up from $39.42 the week prior. PZZA’s 52-week high of $55 was in March. Its low of $33.38 was a year ago. 

Pizza Inn closed out last week at $7.67, down from $8.07 the week prior. The company’s 52-week high is $9.09, achieved in November 2013. Its low is $5.38 in March.

Shares in Papa Murphy's closed last week at $8.46, up slightly from $8.43 the week prior. In its fifth month on the NASDAQ, FRSH’s high/low is $12.10/$8.08, respectively.

Photo provided by Wikimedia.

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