Retail sales are just fair due in part to price resistance. Food ser- vice orders are slow due to people eating out less. In the Midwest, cheese movement is uneven and slow for fall. There is some interest in spot barrels, especially if not in steel. Many cutters are limiting bulk purchases to short term needs.
Demand is best for speciality items.
Production is fairly steady, with declining milk production being offset by higher yields due of in- creased milk solids. In the West, demand is concentrated on current barrels and good qual- ity processing solids. Interest in blocks is mixed. Cheese production is decreasing seasonally as milk supplies decline. Higher fat and protein tests are helping, but are not increasing fast enough to off- set milk declines.