Article
No wheat relief in sight
Most pizza stocks continue to rise.
February 13, 2011 by Alicia Kelso — Editor, QSRWeb.com
Cheese
Average block cheese prices continued to climb last week on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, coming in at an average of $1.88, up from 1.77 the previous week.
Block cheese prices rose throughout the week, closing at $1.83 Monday, $1.87 Tuesday, $1.90 Wednesday and $1.91 Thursday and Friday.
Cheese remains up from last year’s average of $1.63 per pound.
Wheat
Wheat prices started off last week at $9.91 before rising and staying above $10, averaging $10.11 on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. The previous week’s average was $9.91.
Wheat closed at $9.91 Monday, $10.09 Tuesday, $10.27 Wednesday, $10.14 Thursday and $10.17 Friday.
Gasoline and diesel fuel
Today’s nationwide average for regular unleaded gasoline is $3.12, steady from the previous week, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.
Prices remain up from a month ago, when they were $3.09, and from this time last year, when consumers were paying $2.62 at the pump.
Mid-range unleaded currently averages $3.25, while premium unleaded Monday was just under $3.38.
The nationwide average for diesel fuel stood at $3.52, up from $3.49 per gallon last week. Diesel prices also remain up from $3.36 a month ago, and from $2.82 a year ago.
Natural Gas
The Henry Hub spot price fell during the week from $4.55 per million Btu (MMBtu) on Feb. 2, to $4.22 per MMBtu on February 9. The price decline occurred in spite of very cold weather across the United States.
Pizza company stocks
Shares in Pizza Hut parent Yum! Brands Inc. closed at $49.77, up from $49.30 the previous week. The company 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 $17.05 Friday, a boost from the $16.52 closing a week prior. DPZ’s 52-week high was earlier this month at $17.16. Domino’s traded as low as $10.64 in February 2010.
Papa John's stock closed at $29.57, an increase from the previous week’s close of $29.32 Friday, and marking the company’s 52-week high. The company traded at a 52-week low of $21.77 in February 2010.
Shares in CEC Entertainment Inc., parent company of Chuck E. Cheese restaurants, closed at $38.03 Friday, a drop from its $38.26 close the previous week. CEC traded at a 52-week high of $41.79 in April 2010, and a 52-week low of $30.84 Aug. 13, 2010.
California Pizza Kitchen closed at $17.17 Friday, a climb from its previous week’s closing of $16.41. CPKI traded as high as $22.92 in April 2010, and as low as $13.19 in July 2010.
Pizza Inn turned in at $1.88 Friday, down from its previous week’s closing of $1.95. PZZI traded at a 52-week high of $2.20 in April 2010, and a 52-week low of $1.55 in January 2010.
