RED MEAT, POULTRY STOCKS DECLINE

The USDA says red meat and poultry in cold storage at the start of the month were below a year ago.

Red meat came out at 910.451 million pounds, a drop of 17% due to good demand and a slower than a year ago production pace. That included 462.763 million pounds of pork, 14% lower, and 420.244 million pounds of beef, a decrease of 20% from last year’s record monthly high.

Poultry totaled 1.266 billion pounds, slightly under the year before, with a decline in production partially canceled out by slower demand. Chicken accounted for 844.299 million pounds of the poultry total, down 3%, with turkey at 419.05 million pounds, up 7%.

The USDA’s next set of red meat and poultry supply and demand estimates is out November 9^th.