- Aug 15, 2014
- 39
- 40
Don't get me wrong, I know economics dictates all this, and it SHOULD come back down once all the craziness from this <cough><cough> stuff straightens out, but... I'm reminded of a scenario a few years ago.
I remember maybe 4-5 years ago when a virus went through and was killing little piglets? There was supposedly a shortage of bacon and prices went way up, essentially about doubled, I think.
But then, prices never seemed to go back down when the pork supply stabilized, did it? I mean, the meatpacking industry realized that people would PAY those prices for bacon, so when the supply picked back up, why not just keep the prices where they are and pocket the difference, right?
Right.
So how much of this current increase will remain? I don't know that we're going to be seeing $6-7/lb briskets forever, but if they manage to up prices 10-20% at the baseline when this is all done, everyone will breathe a sigh of relief and go on about their lives. But the meatpacking industry will have pulled off a major change in their favor, and there's already a lot of outcry about possible collusion in the industry.
Just curious what ya'll think, or if anyone out there is in the industry and has any "informed speculation".
I remember maybe 4-5 years ago when a virus went through and was killing little piglets? There was supposedly a shortage of bacon and prices went way up, essentially about doubled, I think.
But then, prices never seemed to go back down when the pork supply stabilized, did it? I mean, the meatpacking industry realized that people would PAY those prices for bacon, so when the supply picked back up, why not just keep the prices where they are and pocket the difference, right?
Right.
So how much of this current increase will remain? I don't know that we're going to be seeing $6-7/lb briskets forever, but if they manage to up prices 10-20% at the baseline when this is all done, everyone will breathe a sigh of relief and go on about their lives. But the meatpacking industry will have pulled off a major change in their favor, and there's already a lot of outcry about possible collusion in the industry.
Just curious what ya'll think, or if anyone out there is in the industry and has any "informed speculation".