The Latest: July - 2026
Inflation Eases, But Energy Risks Remain
U.S. consumers felt a bit of relief in June as prices eased somewhat. The Consumer Price Index, published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) eased to 3.5% during the month, down 0.7 percentage points from May due especially to softer energy prices. Lower gasoline prices were also the key driver that boosted the Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI), which rose to 54.4 points in the preliminary July reading published by the University of Michigan.
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Cheddar blocks have lost ground every day since they topped out less than two weeks ago. Still, there is more than enough cheese to meet demand, even if manufacturers dug into inventories last month.
View reportOn Monday they sprinted straight uphill to a record-shattering price. Their journey to that point is an astounding feat of strength and stamina but by the end of the week, prices had fallen far enough to attract buyers.
View reportIn an environment as fickle as the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, bulls are not typically bred for their stamina. But in the Cheddar block market there is a bull of a different breed.
View reportAlthough there is plenty of milk, there is a shortage of fresh cheese and demand remains resilient despite the price.
View reportFears that the meteoric rise was all sparkle and no substance were doused by buyer’s willingness to step in and make a purchase, rather than sit on the sidelines and let the selloff run its course.
View reportA steep decline in milk output in May likely slowed cheese production and tightened the supply of fresh cheese for sale in Chicago today, prompting the remarkable run in the spot market.
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