United States: Strong holiday week meat sales fail to counter slow start for November

Consumer confidence remains subdued, according to the University of Michigan. Consumer confidence is one of the key indicators to help forecast the future strength of the U.S. economy and consumer spending along with it. The Meat Demand Monitor, developed by Kansas State University, echoes the marketplace sentiment with November showing a decreased Willingness-to-pay (WTP) for all five examined beef, pork and chicken items. The monthly tracker’s November highlights include: With value top of mind, consumers eye money-saving measures, with 83% having made one or more changes to their grocery shopping habits. According to Circana, 55% of grocery shoppers look for specials more often and 45% are cutting back on non-essentials. Private-brand interest remains strong, with 37% switching to own-brands more often. As consumers still shift their dollars across items, brands, sizes, stores and restaurants, Circana and 210 Analytics take a deep dive into the numbers to understand the ...