Article

Demand for natural gas up, costs down

December 19, 2010 by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com

Cheese

Average block cheese prices steadily dropped on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, coming in at an average of $1.32 last week. The prior week's average was $1.45.

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

Wheat

Prices for wheat dropped on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, closing at $8.42. This is a 12-cent decrease from the previous Friday, which closed at $8.54.

Wheat prices fluctuated throughout the week, closing above $8.58 on Monday, Dec. 13; $8.31 on Dec. 14; above $8.42 on Dec. 15; $8.35 on Dec. 16; and $8.42 on Dec. 17. 

Gasoline and diesel fuel

The nationwide average for regular unleaded gasoline was $2.98 per gallon Dec. 20, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service, up slightly from the previous week’s average of $2.97.

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 $3.16 per gallon, while premium unleaded, as of today, was at $3.27.

The nationwide average for diesel fuel stood at $3.26 per gallon Dec. 20, a bit of an increase from last week's $3.24. Diesel prices are up from $3.19 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 - Dec. 8-15. 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 $0.24 to $4.22 per million Btu (MMBtu).

Pizza company stocks

Shares in Pizza Hut parent Yum! Brands Inc. closed at $50.05 on Dec. 17, down slightly from its closing price of $50.26 on Dec. 10. 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 $15.85 on Dec. 17, up 45 cents from its closing of $15.40 on Dec. 10. 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 $26.40 on Dec. 17, up from $26.15 on Dec. 10. 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 $40.30 on Dec. 17, down slightly from $40.37 Dec. 10. 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 stayed even with a $17.63 closing price Dec. 17, the same closing price from Dec. 10. CPKI traded as high as $22.92 in April 2010, and as low as $12.29 in December 2009.

Pizza Inn closed at $1.97 Dec. 17, a slight increase from $1.95 Dec. 10. 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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