Wholesale prices continue to slip with an average Choice carcass cutout average last week of $307.55, a drop of $5.85. Harvest rebounded after the holiday-shortened week and was estimated at 632,000 head, 73,000 more than Labor Day week, and 41,000 less than a year ago.
The national weighted average for beef steers last week was $1.60 higher at $184.26/cwt.
Prices were mostly $1 to $2/cwt higher in the north and $2 to $3/cwt higher in the south. Negotiated trade was slow again last week with sellers who shrugged off steady bids being rewarded Friday. ■ The pattern of negotiated cash trade being pushed to late week has reemerged.