Day / March 31, 2015

by Hoosier Econ

Are Pork Prices About to Become Cheaper?

In January I blogged about hog numbers expanding. Now more expansion has happened within the state and nationally. That is good news on the supply side which hopefully equates to some lower prices.

Here is more from HoosierAgToday.com –

Indiana’s total hog and pig inventory on March 1 was estimated at 3.65 million head, up 300,000 head from a year ago, according to Greg Matli, State Statistician, of the USDA, NASS, Indiana Field Office.

United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on March 1, 2015 was 65.9 million head. This was up 7 percent from March 1, 2014, but down slightly from December 1, 2014. Breeding inventory, at 5.98 million head, was up 2 percent from last year, and up 1 percent from the previous quarter.

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by Hoosier Econ

Inflation Alert: College Textbooks

college textbooks

Recent data compiled is showing college textbooks are rising at a double digit rate. The National Association of College Stores has price comparisons on new textbooks college students buy.

    Average Price of New Books
    2007: $56
    2015: $72
    Price increase of 22%

Here are some other stats concerning college students and textbooks

    Average student spending for a semester of course materials
    $509

    Average college bookstore profit margin for a new book
    21.1%

    Percent of students who buy their books at their college bookstore
    47%

    Percent of students who say they have skipped buying a textbook because it was too expensive
    65%

H/T StatisticBrain.com