Spot butter prices in America hit a record peak above $3 a pound in 2015, but now they are falling. Butter has gone through a typical pattern for soft commodities: strong demand and higher prices prompt a jump in production, resulting in a glut and falling prices.
After 2012 demand jumped as anti-fat diets went out of fashion and people started buying butter again. Consumption reached a 40-year high. Producers diverted resources from other dairy products to meet demand, says Chelsey Dulaney in Barron's.
Now stockpiles are up 52% from a year ago and close to a 23-year high.
Try 6 free issues of MoneyWeek today
Get unparalleled financial insight, analysis and expert opinion you can profit from.
Sign up for MoneyWeek’s free twice-daily newsletter.
Join more than 165,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with latest financial news, insights and expert analysis to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
Join more than 165,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with latest financial news, insights and expert analysis to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
Viewpoint
Deutsche Bank
Join more than 165,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with the latest financial news, insights and expert analysis to help you understand what really matters when it comes to your finances.
MoneyWeek is written by a team of experienced and award-winning journalists, plus expert columnists. As well as daily digital news and features, MoneyWeek also publishes a weekly magazine, covering investing and personal finance. From share tips, pensions, gold to practical investment tips - we provide a round-up to help you make money and keep it.