United States-Low beef prices good for catering trade.

In a sign that business might finally be looking up for restaurant operators, wholesale beef prices hit their lowest point in years last month. According to Cattle-Fax, the wholesale price for a Choice Rib, Ribeye Roll, and Lip-On was $9-10 per kilo in February 2009, the lowest since January 2002. Wholesale prices for the Striploin subprimal have also returned to 2002 levels. "The beef industry was severely impacted by the high commodity prices in 2008," says Mike Miller, vice president of business development for Cattle-Fax. "Input costs outpaced beef price increases which squeezed margins at all levels. Last year was historically bad for certain segments of the industry." Today, however, the news is better.