CHICAGO (RFD-TV) — Retail beef sales are holding steady, despite differences in consumer spending power. Analysts say that while some households are facing financial pressures, other consumers are helping to maintain overall demand.
Rich Nelson, chief strategist at Allendale Inc., notes this balance is likely to keep retail sales stable in the short term.
“We do have news that [retail sales] should be [stable],” he said. “We do have news that the lower third of consumers is struggling right now. However, we don’t really have that confirmed on the retail beef pushback yet. We’ve been speculating about this issue for two, if not three years. So far, the middle-class consumer and the higher-income consumer are making up for the concerns on the lower end here in the very short term.”
Nelson adds that cash cattle prices jumped $6 last week, but wholesale beef prices have dropped by $4 over the past few weeks, despite a rebound in cash cattle markets.
Freight Softens as Producers Plan 2026 Budgets Nationwide
December 15, 2025 10:48 AM
·
CoBank’s 2026 Year Ahead Report cites global grain oversupply, easing inflation, rate cuts, and major data center growth that could reshape rural America.
December 12, 2025 12:42 PM
·
Plan for sharp, short-term volatility after unexpected outages; permanent closures rarely trigger major price spread disruptions.
December 12, 2025 12:25 PM
·
Ethanol output softened, but underlying supply-and-demand trends indicate stable longer-term use despite short-term volatility in blending and exports.
December 12, 2025 11:47 AM
·
Strong Farm Credit finances help cushion producers, but prolonged low crop margins could strain renewals in 2026.
December 12, 2025 11:42 AM
·
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) economist Danny Munch joined us on Thursday’s Market Day Report to break down the scope of the U.S. Christmas Tree industry and what growers are up against.
December 11, 2025 01:53 PM
·
