The meat department has ruled the fresh perimeter since the onset of the pandemic. With 62% of the year behind us, meat department sales have already surpassed more than 77% of 2019 sales. Everyday demand continued to carry fresh and processed meat sales well above prior year levels for the week ending August 16. This was the sixth of eight non-holiday weeks between Independence Day and Labor Day. New COVID-19 cases started to moderate in many states and the federal unemployment benefit that expired at the end of July was extended, albeit a lower amount than previously.
The net result of all the positive and negative forces for the meat department was double-digit dollar gains, at +16.1% during the week ending August 16 versus the comparable week year ago. This was up slightly from the prior two weeks and the 23rd week of double-digit dollar gains. Volume increased 6.7% the week of August 16 versus year ago — also up slightly from 5.9% the week prior. At an average of $3.85 per volume across all meats during the week of August 16, prices were flat against the prior week’s $3.84 per pound.