Shop Around For Chicken Prices This Weekend

If you're going to be shopping for some chicken to put on the grill this Memorial Day weekend, you may see prices a lot higher than this time a year ago.

Or maybe not.

One thing is certain though, the prices supermarkets at wholesale for chicken is very much higher than a year ago as supplies available have been below year ago levels and more restaurants and hotels are opening back up creating more demand for those supplies. USDA Livestock Analyst, Shayle Shagam, said average wholesale prices for boneless breasts are running 24% higher than a year ago, wings 103% higher.

But as far as the price supermarkets are going to charge us, "They may not opt to pass the full cost along in the short term," Shagam noted

After all, stores may choose to take a loss on chicken in order to, "bring people to the store they're looking for their meat products to help sell some of the other normal seasonal products that you would sell for Memorial Day family gatherings and picnics."

Shagam said this should be a particularly good week to really shop around for the best price.

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