Tariff policy uncertainty, the sharp decline in immigration and the massive surge in AI investments have made interpreting traditional economic reports more difficult. The CoBank report suggests sharp swings in monthly import volumes, a flattening of working-age population growth and a soaring stock market make it difficult to gauge how “Main Street” America is doing economically. With beef prices hitting all-time highs, the US broiler segment capitalized on the opportunity to provide consumers a value offering this summer. A strong focus on chicken at retail and foodservice boosted white-meat values through August. The quick-service restaurant segment featured a multitude of chicken options focused on strips and new flavors. Softening white-meat values during the remainder of the year are likely to crimp margins but will continue to position chicken as a competitive value offering in 2026. Broiler production is expected to remain elevated through the end of 2025. Read more