MD_DA810                                                         
DA                                                               
MD DA810 Cheese - Northeast                                      

MADISON, WI.  October 4, 2017 (REPORT 40)                       


NORTHEAST WHOLESALE CHEESE:                                      
                                                                 
Manufacturers are producing cheese at steady rates. Inventory levels 
vary, while industry contacts suggest cheese clearing into aging 
programs is increasing. Sales activity is quite brisk for mozzarella 
and Swiss, with current demand ranging good to very good. With the 
holiday season quickly approaching, cutting and packaging operations 
are gearing up. The market undertone correlates with firming prices of 
the CME Group. At the CME Group, weekly average cheese prices are 
firming for blocks and barrels ahead of the industry's holiday 
seasonal needs. Cheese blocks' average price increased $0.1150, while 
cheese barrels' average price grew $0.1875. Consequently, Northeast 
region's wholesale prices for cheeses of the cheddar, Munster, and 
process varieties improved. However, the Swiss cheese price is steady. 
The DMN Northeast September 2017 monthly average price for process 
cheese is $1.9269, compared to $2.0325 one year ago. The 40# cheddar 
average price is $2.1854, compared to $2.2135 one year ago. The DMN 
National Retail Report-Dairy, during September 29-October 5, 2017, 
notes that the Northeast advertised retail weighted average price for 
8 ounce cheese blocks was $2.17, below the U.S. average by 8 cents, as 
prices ranged $1.66-$3.00. The Southeast 8 ounce block price averaged 
$2.45, 20 cents above the national retail average, as prices ranged 
$1.67-$2.50. In the Northeast, the average price for advertised 8 
ounce cheese shreds was $2.29, 1 cent over the national average, with 
prices ranging $1.66-$3.00. In the Southeast, 8 ounce cheese shreds 
averaged $2.39, 11 cents above the national average, while retail 
prices ranged $1.67-$2.50. The CME Group September 2017 average f.o.b. 
price for cheese barrels was $1.5691, compared to $1.5415 the previous 
year. The block average price was $1.6370, up from $1.6224 the 
previous year. 

WHOLESALE SELLING PRICES: DELIVERED,                             
DOLLARS PER POUND (1000 - 5000 POUNDS MIXED LOTS)                
                                                                 
Cheddar 40# Block                            : 2.1525-2.4375     
Process 5# Sliced                            : 1.8600-2.3400     
Muenster                                     : 2.1375-2.4875     
Grade A Swiss Cuts 10 - 14#                  : 3.2725-3.5950                                                                      


1100CT daniel.johnson@ams.usda.gov  608.422.8605
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