News

Gas prices, other commodities relatively stable

Most commodities haven't seen much change this report week.

March 11, 2015

As gas prices continue to rise, the prices have flattened a bit from the previous weeks. Cheese, wheat and diesel remain relatively stable, and most commodities haven't seen much change this report week.

Here's a glimpse at the market:

Cheese

Average block cheese prices inched up a penny on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, coming in at $1.55 last week. The previous week's average was $1.54. Three weeks ago, prices also averaged $1.54.

Prices were $1.54 Monday, $1.54 Tuesday, $1.55 Wednesday and $1.56 Thursday and Friday.

Wheat

The week's average for wheat came in at $5.50 on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange, down from $5.58 the previous week and $5.77 three weeks ago.

Wheat closed at $5.46 Monday, $5.61 Tuesday, $5.57 Wednesday, $5.47 Thursday and $5.42 Friday.

Gasoline and diesel fuel

Monday's nationwide average for regular unleaded gasoline was $2.48, up from $2.42 the previous week, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service.

Prices are also up from $2.21 a month ago, but remain down more than $1 from this time last year, when consumers were paying $3.48 at the pump.

Mid-range unleaded was $2.66, while Monday's premium unleaded price was $2.84.

The nationwide average for diesel fuel is still $2.91, the same as last week. Diesel prices are also up from $2.81 a month ago, but down from $4.00 a year ago.

Natural Gas

Natural gas price movements were mixed over the report week. The Henry Hub spot price rose 9¢ over the report week, from $3.17/million British thermal units (MMBtu) February 25, to $3.26/MMBtu on March 4. Prices fell at most market locations in the Rockies and the West Coast.

At the New York Mercantile Exchange (Nymex), the March contract expired February 25, at $2.894/MMBtu. The April contract moved into the front-month slot and dropped over the week from $2.862/MMBtu to $2.769/MMBtu.

Pizza company stocks

Shares in Pizza Hut parent Yum! Brands Inc. reached $81.11 Friday, down from $81.49 the previous week and $77.53 two weeks ago.

Domino's finished last week at $102.82, up from $101.53 the previous week. The company reached a new 52-week high of $106.46 on Tuesday, Feb. 24 after reaching a previous new high of $104.77 on Monday, Feb. 23. Its 52-week low is $69.76

Papa John's finished at $61.63 Friday, down from $61.84 the previous week. Papa John's also hit a new 52-week high at $65.96 on Monday, Feb. 23. Its 52-week low is $37.32.

Papa Murphy's closed at $13.94 Friday, up from $13.36 the previous Friday.

Rave Restaurant Group turned in at $13.92 Friday, up from $13.02 the previous Friday.