August 26, 2025 Market Report

Alerts & What’s Trending

Still Relying on Spreadsheets? Here’s the Smarter Way to Control Costs.

Do You Really Know Where Your Money’s Going?

Too Many Vendors, Not Enough Time? One Solution Fixes That.

 

Produce

Iceberg lettuce spiked 10.5% week-over-week, moving closer to the seasonal September–November rally. Tomatoes corrected higher after July’s declines, with romas showing the sharpest rebound.

Outlook: Lettuce inflation is expected to persist, potentially returning to $40–$50/carton levels last seen in November 2024. InsideTrack suggests flagging lettuce in menu cost models for Q4 planning.

Grain

Corn and soybeans rallied after the Pro Farmer crop tour revealed yield risk in Iowa and Illinois, falling short of USDA estimates. Wheat also moved marginally higher. Minnesota’s strong output could offset some of the downside.

Outlook: Grain markets will remain highly sensitive to yield updates. InsideTrack recommends monitoring basis movements in the Midwest for better forward-buying opportunities.

Dairy

Butter fell $0.04 to $2.24/lb, extending recent weakness, while cheese markets were steady to slightly lower (blocks flat at $1.78/lb, barrels off $0.02 to $1.81/lb). Tight milk supplies remain a key factor, with summer heat limiting output.

Outlook: Butter will likely remain pressured by weaker foodservice demand, while cheese retains international competitiveness. Tracking milk supply disruptions will be vital for forecasting volatility.

Beef

Cattle and beef prices surged, with the choice cutout up 3% to $407.86/cwt and tenderloins rising another $1.29 to $18.37/lb. End cuts strengthened across the board, while ground beef (81%) advanced to $4.09/lb.

Outlook: Near-term strength is supported by Labor Day demand and early holiday positioning on ribs and tenderloins. Expect cutout values to remain firm into September. Monitoring tenderloin and ribeye premiums versus the five-year average will be critical for margin forecasting.

Pork

Pork trade was mixed, with strong butt and rib demand buoyed by international sales, while loins and hams softened and tenderloins posted modest gains. Trims were steady to slightly lower, signaling some balance in the primal complex.

Outlook: Tariffs and global sales volatility are likely to weigh on the market in the near term. InsideTrack’s contract compliance and price verification tools help operators ensure they’re not overpaying and allow them to spot purchasing opportunities across primals when values diverge.

Seafood

Yellowfin tuna prices have fallen nearly 37% over the past three months, a sharp deviation from seasonal norms. Import volumes have softened but not enough to reverse price pressure.

Outlook: Supply is expected to tighten through November, which should stabilize pricing, though a recovery above $4/lb isn’t likely until early 2026. InsideTrack suggests operators leverage contract visibility to mitigate near-term volatility.

Poultry

Harvests held steady at 171.8M head, mirroring last year’s levels. Pricing trends were mixed: boneless/skinless breasts gained $0.04 to $2.02/lb (up 9% y/y), while tenderloins slipped $0.02 to $2.59/lb. Wings softened to $1.72/lb but remain nearly 30% below last year’s levels. Egg prices continued their sharp decline, down 9% week-over-week and almost 29% y/y.

Outlook: Seasonal weakness is starting to stabilize, but new tariff policies introduce downside risk for export demand. InsideTrack recommends monitoring breast and wing spreads closely, as they could signal whether domestic demand offsets export softness.