The national composite broiler price averaged 148.04 cents per pound in March, bringing the first-quarter average price to 135.1 cents per pound, according to this week’s Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook report from USDA’s Economic Research Service.
Weekly prices continued a climb that started in mid-February, averaging 159.81 cents per pound in the week ending April 1st. Expectations are that the composite price will remain elevated thanks to strong demand and relatively slow growth in production. Quarterly price projections for 2022 were adjusted up accordingly, to 159 cents per pound in the second quarter, 150 cents in the third quarter, and 148 cents in the fourth quarter. This would lead to an annual average of 148 cents per pound, 47 cents over last year’s average of 101.2 cents.
The report can be reviewed here.
