Article
Gas prices reach 13-month high
Wheat is 17 cents higher than a week ago.
April 21, 2014 by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com
Gas prices across the country continue to rise and are above $4 in some markets. According to the Lundberg Survey, the average price of a gallon is at a 13-month high.
Here's a glimpse at the market this week:
Cheese
Cheese prices remained steady last week, averaging $2.21, which matched the week prior. Prices are about 20 cents lower than they were a month ago, and are about 60 cents higher than this time last year.
Last week, prices closed at $2.18 Monday, $2.19 Tuesday, $2.22 Wednesday and $2.28 on Thursday. Markets were closed Friday for the Good Friday/Easter holiday.
Wheat
Wheat prices jumped 17 cents last week on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, averaging $7.28, from $7.11 the week prior.
Wheat prices were as low as $6.02 at the beginning of the year.
Last week, prices closed at $7.17 Monday, $7.38 Tuesday, $7.26 Wednesday and $7.32 on Thursday.
Gasoline and diesel fuel
The nationwide average price for regular unleaded fuel today is $3.66, another jump from the previous week, when the average price was $3.63. According to the AAA and the Oil Price Information Service, prices a month ago were $3.52.
Last year at this time, consumers were paying $3.51 at the pump.
Today's mid-range unleaded is $3.84, from $3.81 the week prior. Premium gas is $4.01, from $3.98 the week prior.
Diesel fuel prices are averaging $3.95, even from $3.95 the week prior. The price of diesel fuel was $3.99 a month ago, and $3.91 a year ago.
Natural gas
Although the Henry Hub spot price fell slightly from $4.66/MMBtu April 9, to $4.62/MMBtu April 16, natural gas spot prices rose somewhat at most market locations this week.
At the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), the price of the near-month futures contract fell slightly from $4.586/MMBtu April 9 to $4.530/MMBtu April 16.
Pizza company stocks
Shares of Pizza Hut parent Yum! Brands Inc. closed out last week at $76.86, up from $75.19 the week prior. The company hit a new 52-week high in November, at $78.68. Its 52-week low was a year ago at $63.16.
Domino's finished last week at $74.97, up slightly from $74.29 the week prior. DPZ hit a new lifetime high last month at $80.61. The company's 52-week low was $49.09 a year ago.
Papa John's shares finished last week at $48.46, from $48.34 the week prior. PZZA hit its 52-week high last month at $55. Its low of $30.34 was a year ago.
Pizza Inn Holdings closed out last week at $5.78, down slightly from $5.95 the week prior. The company's 52-week-high was $9.18 in May. It traded as low as $4.47 a year ago.
Photo provided by Wikipedia.
