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Beef and cattle prices bounced back sharply in the past ten days.

Market ready cattle prices were spurred by a relatively strong futures market and a strengthening in wholesale beef prices.

The recent price pressure is not necessarily a bad thing as it may benefit packers and feedlots alike down the road.

Foreign demand for U.S. beef was down 13.2% in 2015 and has been down in two of the first three months of 2016.

Just 8% of U.S. pastures are in poor to very poor condition, according to USDA. It is a 2% improvement from last year.

Job growth has continued to drop the past few months, a sign that consumer beef demand could be in trouble.

“On Twitter, our following is a young, urban, millennial guy making Hamburger Helper in his dorm room.”

Mexican beef exports have grown rapidly in recent years.

There was little change in finished cattle prices this week which likely has feedlot managers sweating bullets.

Consumers are using their leftover gasoline money at the grocery counter, says Matt Bennett, Bennett Consulting.