Cheese
Block cheese prices stayed flat last week on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, averaging just over $1.62 per pound all week long, up 2 cents from last week.
Cheese prices are up 22 percent compared with last year, when they averaged $1.33 per pound.
Wheat
Skyrocketing prices from Russia’s threatened ban on grain exports have continued, though they’re not as high as in early August.
Prices for wheat on the Minneapolis Grain Exchange closed at $7.15, an 8 cent drop from $7.23 the previous Friday, but still among the highest closings in the past two years.
Wheat prices closed at just over $7.15 on Monday, $7.05 on Tuesday, $6.99 per bushel Wednesday, and $7.18 per bushel Thursday.
Gasoline and diesel fuel
The nationwide average for regular unleaded gasoline was $2.75 per gallon August 2, according to AAA and the Oil Price Information Service, down 2 cents from the previous week’s average of 2.77. Prices are up 1 percent from $2.73 per gallon a month ago and up 4 percent from an average of $2.64 per gallon this time last year. Mid-range unleaded currently averages $2.92 per gallon while premium unleaded as of Aug. 16 stood at $3.03 per gallon. The nationwide average price for diesel fuel stood at $2.99 per gallon August 9, flat from the previous week. Diesel prices are up 11 percent from an average of $2.69 per gallon this time last year.
Natural gas
Summer heat and increased demand this week were insufficient to sustain the natural gas price level, as prices at trading locations across the lower 48 States posted decreases. Overall, spot prices at most locations in the lower 48 States fell between 30 cents and 45 cents per million Btu (MMBtu), although a number of locations posted price decreases of as much as 52 cents per MMBtu, according to the US Energy Information Administration. The Henry Hub spot price ended the report week on August 11, 39 cents lower than the preceding week, at $4.38 per MMBtu.
Pizza company stocks
Shares in Pizza Hut parent Yum! Brands Inc. closed at $40.85 on Aug. 16, down $1.51 compared with the previous week's close of $42.36. YUM traded at a 52-week high of $44 in April 2010 and a 52-week low of $32.49 in October 2009.
Domino's closed at $13.17, up 17 cents compared with the previous Friday's close of $13. DPZ traded as high as $16.32 in April 2010 and as low as $7.09 in August 2009.
Papa John's stock closed at $23.69, down 37 cents compared with the previous Friday's close of $24.06. PZZA traded at a 52-week high of $28.84 in May 2010 and a 52-week low of $21.44 in December 2009.
Shares in CEC Entertainment Inc., parent company of Chuck E. Cheese restaurants, closed at $30.84, down $1.76 cents compared with the previous week's close of $32.60. CEC traded at a 52-week high of $41.79 in April 2010 and a 52-week low of $24.69 in October 2009.
California Pizza Kitchen’s stock suffered after a deal with American Securities fell through. It closed at $15.40 on Aug. 16, down 78 cents from the previous week's close of $16.18. CPKI traded as high as $22.92 in April 2010 and as low as $12.29 in December 2009.
Pizza Inn closed at $1.99 on Aug. 16, up 2 cents from the previous week's close of $1.97. PZZI traded at a 52-week high of $2.20 in April 2010 and a 52-week low of $1.50 in December 2009.
