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Domino's, Papa John's share new 52-week high

While cheese and wheat prices hardly moved last week, Domino's and Papa John's both reached new 52-week highs on the same day.

February 23, 2015

While cheese and wheat prices hardly moved last week, Domino's and Papa John's both reached new 52-week highs on the same day.

Here's a glimpse at the market:

Cheese

Average block cheese prices jumped just a penny last week on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, coming in at an average of $1.54. The previous two-week average was $1.53.

Prices stayed the same each day last week, coming in at $1.54.

Wheat

Much like cheese wheat remained the same last week on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. The average price came in at $5.77, up from $5.70 two weeks ago.

Wheat closed at $5.88 Tuesday, $5.82 Wednesday, $5.74 Thursday and $5.66 Friday.

Gasoline and diesel fuel

Monday's nationwide average for regular unleaded gasoline is $2.17, up a nickel from the previous week at $2.25, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.

Prices are also up from $2.03 a month ago, but down more than $1 from this time last year, when consumers were paying $3.40 at the pump.

Mid-range unleaded is $2.51, while Monday's premium unleaded price is $2.69.

The nationwide average for diesel fuel is $2.86, the same price as it was last week. Diesel prices are down more than $1 from $3.98 a year ago.

Natural Gas

Natural gas prices were mixed in the report week, with regions east of the Rockies experiencing extreme winter weather and those west of the Rockies experiencing more moderate conditions. The Henry Hub spot price dropped modestly at midweek, but rose overall for the report week, closing at $2.93/MMBtu on Wednesday, February 18.

At the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), the price of the near-month (March 2015) contract started the report week at $2.797/MMBtu and moved up to settle at $2.831/MMBtu.

Pizza company stocks

Shares in Pizza Hut parent Yum! Brands Inc. reached $77.53 Friday, up from $73.93 the previous week and $72.28 two weeks ago.

Domino's finished last week at $102.50, up from $99.86 the previous week. The company reached a new 52-week high of $104.77 Monday, Feb. 23.

Papa John's finished at $64.83 Friday, a rise of nearly $2 from $62.91 the previous week. Papa John's also hit a new 52-week high at $65.96 on Monday, Feb. 23.

Papa Murphy's closed at $13.63 Friday, up from $13.50 the previous Friday.

Rave Restaurant Group turned in at $12.51 Friday, up from $12.12 the previous Friday.