MD_DA810                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA810 Cheese - Northeast                                      

MADISON, WI.  May 24, 2017 (REPORT 21)                                                                
                                                                 
NORTHEAST WHOLESALE CHEESE:                                      
                                                                 
Northeast wholesale selling prices for cheddar and Muenster increased 
$0.0475, and the process 5# cheese price shifted higher, $0.0100. The 
Grade A Swiss cheese price is unchanged. Cheese production is steady 
as milk output continues to clear into vats. With the heavy output, 
inventories are building. Food service sales are steady to slow, as 
educational institutions are closing/slowing down for the school year. 
Retail interest is improving, as outdoor grilling becomes more of 
interest as warmer weather hits. With U.S cheddar cheese prices at a 
competitive edge in the global markets, sales have been strong. This 
week, a cooperative export assistance program accepted 14 requests for 
export assistance to sell 2.57 million pounds (1,165 metric tons) of 
cheese. Tuesday's CME Group daily cash prices saw barrels close at 
$1.4725, down $0.0675 from a week ago, and blocks closed at $1.6450, 
down $0.0250 from a week ago. The DMN National Retail Report-Dairy, 
for May 19-25, 2017, noted the Northeast weighted average advertised 
price for 8 oz. cheese blocks was $2.19, 12 cents below last week's 
price and 7 cents below the national average price. Northeast retail 
prices range $1.99-$2.99. The Southeast 8 oz. average block price was 
$2.50, up 24 cents from the national average price and up 24 cents 
from the previous week, with surveyed retail prices ranging $1.69-
$3.00 in the region. The Northeast average advertised price for 8 oz. 
cheese shreds was $2.24, 6 cents above the national average price, 
with prices ranging $1.77-$3.29. In the Southeast, the average price 
for 8 oz. shreds was $2.25, a 4 cent drop from the previous week, with 
prices ranging $1.29 -$2.50. COLD STORAGE:  According to NASS, U.S. 
stocks of total natural cheese as of April 2017 totaled 1.3 billion 
pounds, 3 percent more than the previous month, and up 10 percent from a 
year ago. Swiss cheese totaled 27.2 million pounds, 10 percent more than a 
year ago, and up 4 percent from last month. In New England, stocks of 
American cheese totaled 67.6 million pounds 5 percent more than April 2016 
and no change in percentage from the previous month.

WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES: DELIVERED,                             
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 2.1200-2.4050     
Process 5# Sliced                            : 1.6400-2.1200     
Muenster                                     : 2.1050-2.4550     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 10 - 14#                  : 3.3225-3.6450                                                                    

1100CT Jessica.Mueller@ams.usda.gov  608.422.8589
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