Mixed Price Performance in Dairy Product

WASHINGTON - May 10/02 - STAT -- Dairy product prices recorded another mixed performance during a week which also featured a mixed performance by various classes of milkfat.

Looking at markets for the week ending May 4, the USDA found milkfat prices received for sweet cream with a fat content of 38 to 50% for the weeks ending May 4 and April 27 are as follows, respectively: Class II $1.53, $1.53; and All Classes $1.52, $1.50.

Cheddar Cheese prices received for US 40 pound Blocks averaged $1.23 per pound. The price per pound increased 0.3 cents from the previous week. The price for US 500 pound Barrels adjusted to 38% moisture averaged $1.23 per pound, up 0.6 cents from the previous week.

Butter prices received for 25 kilogram and 68 pound boxes meeting USDA Grade AA standards averaged $1.11 per pound. The U.S. price per pound decreased 2.0 cents from the previous week.

Nonfat Dry Milk prices received for bag, tote and tanker sales meeting USDA Extra Grade or USPH Grade A standards averaged 89.3 cents per pound. The U.S. price per pound decreased 0.3 cents from the previous week.

Dry Whey prices received for bag, tote and tanker sales meeting USDA Extra Grade standards averaged 18.1 cents per pound. The U.S. price per pound decreased 0.6 cents from the previous week.

                          Milkfat Prices, United States
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                        Week Ending
        Class       :-----------------------------------------------------------
                    : May 4,  : Apr 27, : Apr 20, : Apr 13, : Apr 6,  : Mar 30
                    :  2002   :  2002   : 2002 1/ : 2002 1/ : 2002 1/ : 2002 1/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    :                         Dol./Lb.
Class II            :
  Avg. Price 2/     :   1.5302    1.5339    1.5498    1.5980    1.6126    1.6279
                    :
                    :
                    :                          Pounds
  Milkfat 3/        :
   Purchases        :2,728,038 2,448,146 3,039,553 2,875,138 3,066,909 2,973,894
                    :
                    :                         Dol./Lb.
All Classes         :
  Avg. Price 2/     :   1.5173    1.5025    1.5164    1.5459    1.5717    1.5858
                    :
                    :
                    :                          Pounds
  Milkfat 3/        :
   Purchases        :4,804,377 5,804,534 7,217,150 6,735,298 7,712,806 7,616,577
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1/  Revised.
2/  Prices weighted by volumes reported.
3/  Purchases as reported by participating manufacturers.