Article

Cheese prices continue to fall

December 12, 2010 by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

Cheese

Average block cheese prices dropped a nickel last week on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, coming in at $1.45. The prior week's average was $1.50.

Cheese prices remain down from last year, when they averaged $1.63 per pound.

Wheat

Prices for wheat continued to rise on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, closing just above $8.54 Friday. This is a 37-cent increase from the previous Friday, which closed at $8.17.

Wheat prices inched up all week, closing at $8.34 Dec. 6 and $8.35 Dec. 7. On Dec. 8, wheat hit just below $8.43 and closed at $8.54 Friday. 

Gasoline and diesel fuel

The nationwide average for regular unleaded gasoline was just above $2.97 per gallon Dec. 13, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service, up from the previous week’s average of $2.95.

Prices also are up from a month ago, when they were $2.88, and from this time last year, when they hovered around $2.61 per gallon.

Mid-range unleaded currently averages just above $3.16 per gallon, while premium unleaded, as of today was at $3.27.

The nationwide average for diesel fuel stood at $3.24 per gallon Dec. 13, up from last week’s $3.21 prices. Diesel prices are up from $3.17 a month ago, and from $2.80 a year ago.

Natural Gas

In response to cold weather across much of the United States, natural gas spot prices increased across the board this report week, Dec. 1-8. Though most increases were less than 50 cents per million Btu (MMBtu), prices at a number of trading points (notably in the Northeast and Florida) increased by several dollars. The Henry Hub spot price rose 25 cents, from $4.21 per MMBtu to $4.46 per MMBtu.

Pizza company stocks

Shares in Pizza Hut parent Yum! Brands Inc. closed at $50.26 Dec. 10, down slightly compared to its close of $50.57 Dec. 3. 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 $15.40 Dec. 10, up from $14.85 on Dec. 3. 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 $26.15 Dec. 10, up one penny from its $26.14 closing on Dec. 3. 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 $40.37 Dec. 10, up from $39.13 Dec. 3. 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 closed at $17.63 Dec. 10, down a bit from its $17.79 closing on Dec. 3. CPKI traded as high as $22.92 in April 2010, and as low as $12.29 in December 2009.

Pizza Inn closed at $1.95 Dec. 10, a boost from its $1.89 closing Dec. 3. 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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