Commodities update -- Week of Nov. 16, 2009
November 15, 2009
Block cheese prices on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange averaged slightly over $1.57 per pound, up 4 cents from the previous week. Block cheese closed at $1.57 Monday through Thursday, and just under $1.58 Friday. Prices are off 14 cents, or 8 percent, compared with this time last year, when block cheese averaged just under $1.71 per pound. Wheat Wheat for December delivery closed at $5.56 per bushel Friday on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, up from the previous week's close of $5.18. Prices for wheat for December delivery closed at $5.46 per bushel Monday, $5.45 per bushel Tuesday, $5.51 per bushel Wednesday and $5.29 per bushel Thursday. Gasoline and diesel fuel The nationwide average for regular unleaded gasoline was $2.63 per gallon Nov. 16, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service, down 3 cents from the previous week. Prices are up 4 percent from an average of $2.53 per gallon a month ago and up 25 percent from an average of $2.11 per gallon this time last year. Mid-range unleaded currently averages $2.79 per gallon while premium unleaded stands at $2.89 per gallon as of Nov. 9. The nationwide average price for diesel fuel stands at $2.82 per gallon Nov. 16, off 1 cent from last week. Diesel prices are off 6 percent from an average of $3.00 per gallon this time last year. Natural gas
With little impact on production in the Gulf of Mexico from Hurricane Ida and moderate temperatures in many parts of the country, natural gas spot prices decreased sharply for the current report week (Nov. 4 -11), according to the Energy Information Administration. The Henry Hub spot price decreased by $0.90 to $3.59 per million Btu (MMBtu).
Pizza company stocks Shares in Pizza Hut parent Yum! Brands Inc. closed at $35.27 on Nov. 13, up 47 cents compared with the previous week's close of $34.80. YUM traded at a 52-week high of $36.96 in June 2009 and a 52-week low of $21.50 in November 2008. Domino's closed at $7.79, up 24 cents compared with the previous Friday's close of $7.55. Over the past 52 weeks, DPZ has traded as high as $10.07 in June 2009 and as low as $2.61 in November 2008. Papa John's stock closed at $22.02, off $1.22 compared with the previous Friday's close of $23.24. PZZA traded at a 52-week high of $29.25 in May 2009 and a 52-week low of $12.78 in November 2008. Shares in CEC Entertainment Inc., parent company of Chuck E. Cheese restaurants, closed at $29.17, off 42 cents compared with the previous week's close of $29.59. CEC traded at a 52-week high of $34.77 in July 2009 and a 52-week low of $12.96 in November 2008. California Pizza Kitchen closed at $12.81 on Nov. 13, off $1.03 cents compared with the previous week's close of $13.84. CPKI has traded as high as $17.44 in mid-April and as low as $5.24 in November 2008. Pizza Inn closed at $1.60 on Nov. 13, off 4 cents from the previous week's close of $1.64. PZZI traded at a 52-week high of $2.32 in November 2008 and a 52-week low of 98 cents in April 2009.