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Soaring Bacon Prices Got You Down? Blame The "Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus"... And Spiking Inflation

Tyler Durden's picture




 

We recently noted the soaring cost of US foodstuffs this quarter (handily outperforming stocks) but without a doubt it is lean hogs that are the best performer - up a stunning 51% in Q1. As Bloomberg reports, the reasons are varied and, fair warning, sometimes disgusting: The same Ukraine story that is helping to keep a lid on equities is fueling a rally in wheat on concerns about Russian crops; the pigs in China are gobbling up U.S. soy, while the hog supply in the U.S. is being hurt by a nasty case of “porcine epidemic diarrhea virus.”

 

Via Bloomberg:

So far in 2014 it’s worth taking note of the leaders to show that while alpha may not grow on trees, it can sometimes grow in the fields:

Lean hogs are up 51 percent this quarter.

 

Corn is up 16 percent.

 

Even untradable chicken wings (specifically the USDA Georgia Dock Chicken Ready To Cook Wings Spot Price) are up 8.9 percent.

And of course, the broad US Foodstuff index

 

Must be the weather? But summing it all up - Q1 has been the quarter of food inflation and financial asset deflation

 

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Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:17 | 4603174 Deathrips
Deathrips's picture

Drawing (a REAL) Red Line in the sand...this agression will not stand!!!

 

Nobody messes with BACON!!!

 

Now, how to naked short sell the annual production of bacon in a day......Bacon Unite!!!

 

To ARMS, To ARMS!!! (not liar loans)

 

RIPS!!!

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:18 | 4603208 ncdirtdigger
ncdirtdigger's picture

Bullish? or Hoggish?

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:27 | 4603244 Deathrips
Deathrips's picture

Oh no you didnt....!!!

 

Bacon!!

 

This is what all the fools will say while the house of cards burns.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udS-OcNtSWo

 

"Expensive bacon, aint nobody got time for dat."

 

RIPS

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:41 | 4603304 SWRichmond
SWRichmond's picture

I should start a new account called "porcstar" and rave about bacon.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:47 | 4603318 TahoeBilly2012
TahoeBilly2012's picture

A little sawdust in your sausage increases fiber and decreases calories. Win win.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:49 | 4603322 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

Chinese pigs down themselves by the thousands in the river.  Ours shit themselves to death.  I dunno.  That's a tough choice.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:55 | 4603335 Pinto Currency
Pinto Currency's picture

 

Kruglopod economists blamed the rampant food inflation of the 70s on a failed anchovy harvest off the coast of S. America driving fertilizer and food prices higher.

This time it may be bacon that sends food inflation, oil and gold to the moon.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 15:07 | 4603375 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

Back in the 70s, we didn't have QE.  Real supply constraints coupled with QE might be kinda fun.  And by fun, I mean scary.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 15:29 | 4603462 Boris Alatovkrap
Boris Alatovkrap's picture

"Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus" is not real blame, but is "Fiat Quantitative Diarrhea Virus". More money is chase fewer pig. Please to wait while Boris is form facial expression of utter surprise and aghast.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 16:36 | 4603673 macholatte
macholatte's picture

 

 

All your pork belong to us

 

 

Smithfield Foods Inc. (SFD), the world’s largest hog and pork producer, said U.S. regulators will allow the company to be bought by China’s Shuanghui International Holdings Ltd. in what would be the biggest Chinese purchase of a U.S. firm.

 

Smithfield Receives U.S. Approval for Biggest Chinese Takeover

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-06/smithfield-receives-u-s-regulator-approval-for-shuanghui-deal.html

 

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 16:49 | 4603711 SAT 800
SAT 800's picture

Pigs shitting themselves to death. Yumm. Think I'll go get some pork sausage.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 17:04 | 4603756 pigs-n-space
pigs-n-space's picture

At least the casings will come cleaner, for your sausage....

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 15:21 | 4603427 Deathrips
Deathrips's picture

Sometimes, I have to just sit back and wonder how fucking retarded people are....I dont wonder too long.

They are literally retarded. I cite another example of the coward silent Junker!

 

RIPS

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 15:47 | 4603522 dirty belly
dirty belly's picture

You forgot this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMFQhY5p39U&list=UU1rv5TQFjtwRrrjHtstIwmQ...

"Been outta work...(outta work)...baby needs shoes...singin' those welfare Blues..."

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:32 | 4603268 dtwn
dtwn's picture

Not good for China when pork prices go through the roof.  Lots of unhappy citizens.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 16:31 | 4603657 pods
pods's picture

Plan B:  Woof!

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:12 | 4603179 Itchy and Scratchy
Itchy and Scratchy's picture

Whoo hoo! Inflation at last! With any luck food will be twice as expensive next week! Thanks first female fed banker ever! Whoo hoo!

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:48 | 4603216 TahoeBilly2012
TahoeBilly2012's picture

What's rice at cant find the ticker.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 16:34 | 4603666 TexasAggie
TexasAggie's picture

What about Hemp - used to make hanging ropes.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 17:41 | 4603870 o2sd
Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:15 | 4603188 NOTaREALmerican
NOTaREALmerican's picture

Lean hogs on a harley, hardly. 

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:16 | 4603195 ParkAveFlasher
ParkAveFlasher's picture

Epic diarrhea, sounds about right.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:17 | 4603197 OwnSilverPlayMusic
OwnSilverPlayMusic's picture

Quick, get the pig printer!

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:18 | 4603202 One And Only
One And Only's picture

I got my toes done at my favorite asian freaks place and she raised the price 23%.

Shit's gettin real.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:22 | 4603235 NOTaREALmerican
NOTaREALmerican's picture

Inflation will be interesting.   The Trash/Prey Class has no ability to increase their wages.    The Elysium Class is completely unaffected by inflation (except for the adjustment of their asset prices).  The Elysium Support Class can increase their wages so the inflation doesn't matter that much.

It'll be interesting to watch.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:25 | 4603214 Disenchanted
Disenchanted's picture

re: "the pigs in China"

I'm assuming you're referring to the ones not floating in rivers...

 

Remember that?

 

Do the 'Tribe's' Wall Street/Chicago firms eschew the pork complex in commodities? Or does the possibilty of piling up shekels override the shame of trafficking in lean hogs and pork bellies...

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:20 | 4603219 q99x2
q99x2's picture

The Hog diarrhea is caused by Bill and Malinda Gates--two of the most deadly human beings on the face of the planet. Microsoft wasn't bad enough for Bill he had to have Monsanto so he do some real damage.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:20 | 4603220 quasimodo
quasimodo's picture

PED is one nasty, nasty SOB. I have witnessed firsthand the decimation this will do to a new liter.(x thousands)

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:35 | 4603279 cougar_w
cougar_w's picture

Video link, or GTFO

 

/s

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 15:38 | 4603493 quasimodo
quasimodo's picture

http://nationalhogfarmer.com/health/producer-diary-pedv-outbreak-meadow-...

 

Sorry, no video link and you have to register for this one. Not far down the road from my stomping grounds.

It's worth a read for those that are interested.

 

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 15:15 | 4603397 Norsky
Norsky's picture

You are quite correct. Last numbers I saw estimated 1.3-1.5 MILLION baby pigs died from this in January alone. All winter I have been telling everyone I know to stock up on beef and pork, because the price is going to continue up.

Hopefully warmer weather will slow the virus down like it does for a similar disease, TGE.

 

A good article just out this week:

 

http://nationalhogfarmer.com/business/rabobank-predicts-significant-decl...

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:21 | 4603225 iamrefreshed
iamrefreshed's picture

Don't shortages usually mean less on the market shelf? Our market can sell you all the bacon you want at inflated prices. Oh, that's the reason, inflation!

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:24 | 4603239 LFMayor
LFMayor's picture

Bacon Soylent Green is made of people.  Now you know where all those milk-carton faces went.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:55 | 4603338 El Vaquero
El Vaquero's picture

Long pig!

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:22 | 4603229 TalkToLind
TalkToLind's picture

Pay no attention to the bearded woman behind the printing press!

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:22 | 4603234 Peter Pan
Peter Pan's picture

You mean to tell me that QE can't treat diarrhea virus?
Who would have thought?

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:25 | 4603243 slightlyskeptical
slightlyskeptical's picture

If you buy bacon watch the expiration dates. At $7/lb. + they cant be moving very fast, but the shelf space is the same. Also be careful of imitations. Krispy Kitty brand is one I would avoid.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:31 | 4603254 ebworthen
ebworthen's picture

If I bake my bacon at 350 degrees for 25 minutes in a cast iron pan I won't get that diarrhea virus, right?

p.s. - "Inflation is not apparent. We are, however, concerned about deflation."  Ben Bernanke, PhD.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:31 | 4603263 TalkToLind
TalkToLind's picture

You'll be fine.  Don't worry, Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus is the new "Bad Weather". 

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:35 | 4603278 Disenchanted
Disenchanted's picture

Mmmm, bacon jerky.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:29 | 4603257 Market Rage
Market Rage's picture

Lean hog futures will most likely be pummeled on Monday.  The USDA report comes out after the futures close today.  I wish I had the sack to short HE.   I don't.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 15:15 | 4603415 skwid vacuous
skwid vacuous's picture

"Wilson where you going? Idiot - get back in there at once and SELL SELL SELL"

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:30 | 4603259 CaptainSpaulding
CaptainSpaulding's picture

I hate pork, But i love sausages

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:34 | 4603274 Magnum
Magnum's picture

Fresh limes now are 5x normal and over double their previous high.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/Margaritas-in-danger-as-l...

 

"Margaritas in danger as lime prices at all-time high"

“Prices for limes are at a historical high,” said Paul Gonzalez, Jr., a produce buyer for River City Produce, one of the largest produce and food service wholesalers in San Antonio. “A case of limes in the summer normally runs about $4 and that can get up to $25 in the winter. Prices right now have reached $95 or $100 for a case… And when the market goes up, the quality goes down.”

 

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:42 | 4603305 TalkToLind
TalkToLind's picture

Bad weather!  No, Chevy Cruze plague, err, I mean PED virus...umm, no...CITRUS DISEASE, that's it.  But no worries, it's transitory!  Now get out there and consume.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:36 | 4603282 Ignorance is bliss
Ignorance is bliss's picture

Didn't the Chinese buy the largest pork producer in the world? Smithfield farms. The Chinese tell us how much we need to pay for American bacon.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:38 | 4603287 scuttlebutt
scuttlebutt's picture

I'm sure al transitory, according to Uncle Ben.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:51 | 4603294 Manipuflation
Manipuflation's picture

I noticed the pop machine vendor downstairs raised prices from $1.35 per bottle to $1.50 per bottle yesterday.  Not a big corn syrup fan here anyway.

I should run down to the local White Castle and see what a six pack of sliders, an order of fries and a medium soda costs.  It used to be a $1.99 back in the mid 90's.:-)  It's probably like $5.99 now.  I'm not sure if I could even eat that anymore but I could try.

edit:  No, I just read the reviews on my local White Castle.  It sounds like it is a great place to contract any number of various bacterium that might create exploding projectile diarrhea.  Nothing ended well in those reviews.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 15:02 | 4603360 LFMayor
LFMayor's picture

You eat those nasty ass white castle burgers and you'll get first hand fucking experience with Explosive Chronic Porcine Diarrhea.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 15:46 | 4603519 Manipuflation
Manipuflation's picture

+1.  What?  You mean you don't want to eat a couple dozen delicious steamed bacteria burgers the size of postage stamp?  C'mon man, those burgers are aged to perfection.      

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:41 | 4603299 Duude
Duude's picture

If you sell just about any food product line in America, no product line revamp  is better without a slice of bacon.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:51 | 4603327 seek
seek's picture

Sure wish the charts were Y/Y and not YTD, I think there's been an unusual amount of hype due to the December decline resulting in more extreme comparisons.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:52 | 4603329 agstacks
agstacks's picture

"She acts like she's the Queen, and we're the sorry people!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T_obaO46Bo

 

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 14:55 | 4603339 Conax
Conax's picture

I stopped buying bacon last year. It was getting weird, you pull it up off the pile and it s t r e t c  h  e  s  a mile, and is almost gooey. After it's fried up, it turns into a piece of inedible stone.

Suspecting it was made from Chi-com political prisoners, I gave up on it.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 16:16 | 4603592 pupdog1
pupdog1's picture

You would be lucky to get Chinese political prisoner bacon. Probably those bloated dead floating river pigs that were in the news a few months ago.

That's why it's so strechy--it's the special Chinese chemicals in the water.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 15:01 | 4603355 Spungo
Spungo's picture

Wealth Effect (for Monsanto)

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 15:01 | 4603356 skwid vacuous
skwid vacuous's picture

Not much bacon eaten at a Fed breakfast meeting, more like bagels and lox -  so who cares...

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 15:13 | 4603389 TalkToLind
TalkToLind's picture

The local Super Malwart was a ghost town this Wednesday.  Business was so slow that it was difficult for me to come to terms with what I was seeing:  

 

  • Parking lot was 90% empty.
  • Every electric scooter was parked up front and fully charged.  
  • Doritos were fully stocked.  
  • 70in LED TV pallet was full.   
  • The front line had a total of 2 cashiers.   

I don't know about you, but I'd say this "non-existent" inflation is hitting the EBT army where it hurts.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 15:13 | 4603404 LFMayor
LFMayor's picture

come on man... it's the end of the month.  No tengo dinero, dontcha know.  The Gibs has not arrived onto the card.  Go check this time next week if you think i'm wrong.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 16:05 | 4603571 skwid vacuous
skwid vacuous's picture

Wait 'til the cards start getting reloaded next Tuesday... doritos and grape soda will be flying off the shelves

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 16:23 | 4603634 pupdog1
pupdog1's picture

I was in that WalMart. It was just me and one other skank.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 15:39 | 4603498 Ignorance is bliss
Ignorance is bliss's picture

I know people that grocery shop at the dollar store. That is how far some people have fallen.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 18:18 | 4604014 1stepcloser
1stepcloser's picture

how far?  Dollar stores usta be called 5 &10s  for nickels and dimes..   In a few years dollar stores will become 5&10s again..for 5 and 10 dollars

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 15:39 | 4603499 RevRex
RevRex's picture

I can always tell when ebt cards just got refilled.....scoombies everywhere with cartloads of "fill_it_ MIG (like the Russian Jet) nuns"....grape soda and Doritos....

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 15:50 | 4603530 shutdown
shutdown's picture

Anyone placing pieces of dead animals in their bodies is a sick and twisted mofo.

And anyone ingesting dead animal bits from the PRC deserves what happens to 'em.  

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 16:26 | 4603645 quasimodo
quasimodo's picture

As opposed to radioactive veggies from the Central Valley?

Pick your poison. 

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 15:58 | 4603544 zipit
zipit's picture

What was the news that sparked the breakout (on the hog chart) on Feb. 13th?

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 18:28 | 4604061 pigflu
pigflu's picture

That last trading day for the February Lean hog contract was on February 14th. The April contract was carrying a premium to the Feb.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 19:40 | 4604275 unicorn
unicorn's picture

you love your bacon? watch this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZs1vodBxP0

and dont be angry at me...............................

 

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 19:56 | 4604315 shutdown
shutdown's picture

... like I was sayin'.

Fri, 03/28/2014 - 19:44 | 4604290 I Write Code
I Write Code's picture

Value of a BitHog will top $2500 by Xmas, they are the other white currency.

Sat, 03/29/2014 - 14:16 | 4605654 SilverTech
SilverTech's picture

I assume pigs are fed GMO corn and soy. I bet it's 90% of their calories.

I wouldn't be surprised if this is a contributing factor in low resistance to the virus.

GMO is poison.

You wouldn't catch Arnold Ziffle eatin that crap.

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