MD_DA810                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA810 Cheese - Northeast                                      

MADISON, WI.  January 04, 2017 (REPORT 1)                        

NORTHEAST WHOLESALE CHEESE:                                      

Eastern cheese makers say sales may have edged back slightly from pre-
holiday orders, but are still seasonally strong. Bottlers are using 
heavier volumes of milk, however, processors report there is plenty of 
milk for manufacturing. Cheese plants are running at or near full 
production schedules. There has been a little increase in cheese 
stocks following the holiday blitz. Mozzarella demand is increasing as 
schools resume classes and the football playoffs and pizza season 
begin. The DMN National Retail Report-Dairy, for December 30, 2016-
January 5, 2017, noted the Northeast weighted average advertised price 
for 8 oz. cheese blocks was $2.21, 14 cents above the national 
average, with a regional price range of $1.99-$3.00. The Southeast 8 
oz. block average price was $2.15, 8 cents above the national average, 
with a regional price range of $1.99-$2.50. The Northeast average 
advertised price for 8 oz. cheese shreds was $2.26, 6 cents above the 
national average price, with a regional price range of $1.99-$2.50. In 
the Southeast, the average price for 8 oz. shreds was $2.18, with 
prices ranging $1.99-$2.50. Northeast wholesale cheese prices for 
cheddar and Muenster declined $0.0725, while 5# sliced process cheese 
prices decreased $0.0450. Grade A Swiss prices are steady. The CME 
Group December 2016 monthly average price for barrels was $1.6132, 
compared to $1.4638 a year ago; blocks' average price was $1.7335, up 
from $1.4616 a year ago. The Northeast December 2016 monthly average 
price for cheddar blocks is $2.3384, compared to $2.0306 one year ago. 
Processed 5# sliced average price is $2.0463, compared to $1.9299 one 
year ago. Tuesday's CME Group daily cash prices saw barrels close at 
$1.5950, up $0.0625 from a week ago. Blocks closed Tuesday at $1.6700, 
unchanged from a week ago. 

WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES: DELIVERED,                             
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 2.1250-2.4100     
Process 5# Sliced                            : 1.6950-2.1750     
Muenster                                     : 2.1100-2.4600     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 10 - 14#                  : 3.2700-3.5925     


1100CT mike.bandli@ams.usda.gov 608.557.7010
USDA/AMS/Dairy Market News, Madison, Wisconsin
Dairy Market News website: http://www.ams.usda.gov/market-news/dairy
Dairy Market News database portal: 
http://www.marketnews.usda.gov/mnp/da-home