Macroeconomic Cost of Food Surges Courtesy of a 46.7 percent rise in retail pork prices, China’s food inflation jumped by 10 percent in August on an annualized basis. This is the biggest monthly increase in the cost of food since January 2012. It also marks the seventh straight month that food prices have risen above their 2018 levels. Heading into the annual Moon Harvest Holiday and then the all-important National Day week-long celebrations, ongoing price increases in cooking oil, vegetables, fruit, other meat and fish, as well as pork, will have a dampening impact on consumer sentiment, particularly if China’s quarterly GDP continues to slow. Livestock All-Time Record Live Hog Price Since surpassing the...
What You Need to Know Today: Crude oil prices extended their rally today, supported by several developments, including escalating Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabian oil infrastructure and growing concerns about supply disruptions. The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to remove 50 perc...
Regional News Dry weather across the UK and Europe is becoming increasingly concerning for the 2027 crops as planting intentions are lowered amid dry soil conditions. Delayed sowing or establishment under adverse conditions could leave crops more vulnerable to frost/freeze events and dise...
From WPI Consulting
Forecasting developments in production agriculture
On behalf of a private U.S. agricultural technology provider, WPI’s team generated an econometric model to forecast the movement of concentrated corn production north and west from the traditional U.S. Corn Belt. WPI’s model has subsequently provided quantitative support to a multi-million-dollar investment into short-season corn variety development. WPI’s methodology included a series of interviews with regional grain elevators and seed consultants. Emphasizing outreach and communication with stakeholders who possess intimate sectoral knowledge – on-the-ground insights – is a regular component of WPI’s methodologies, made possible by WPI’s ever-growing network of industry contacts.