Strong consumer and export demand pushed red meat in cold storage below year ago levels.
The USDA says that at the end of August, the red meat total was 976.719 million pounds, down 13% on the year, with pork dropping 23% to 467.682 million and beef 2% lower at 460.219 million pounds. The supply of boneless pork loins were a monthly record high.
The poultry numbers also indicated good late summer demand, with the total 2% less than last year at 1.422 billion pounds, including a 1% decline in chicken to 882.981 million pounds and a 6% decrease for turkey to 531.763 million pounds.
