Supplies of red meat and poultry in cold storage declined in November, but were slightly higher compared to 2012 levels, the US Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service reported.
Poultry supplies in cold storage on Nov. 30 dropped 18 percent from October but edged higher by 1 percent from a year ago, according to NASS. Total stocks of chicken climbed 2 percent from the previous month and increased 7 percent from last year, while total pounds of turkey in freezers fell 50 percent from October and declined 14 percent from Nov. 30.
Supplies of red meat in freezers slipped 2 percent from the previous October and eased 1 percent compared to 2012, NASS reported. Total pounds of beef in freezers were 1 percent over the October total, while frozen pork supplies declined 3 percent compared to October and eased 2 percent compared to last year. Stocks of pork bellies jumped 81 percent compared to October and soared 103 percent from last year's total.
