The key to developing marketing strategies is having records on past price patterns. Knowing the historical patterns of trends, cycles and seasonal price movements can provide a base for forecasting.
Trends refer to consistent price movements over a period of years.
Hog price cycles are fairly regular up and down changes which cover a period of about three to five years. Seasonal price patterns refer to month to month repeating patterns within a year. This NebFact provides data about seasonal price patterns. Cull sow seasonal price patterns persist from year to year. The price patterns result from changes in pork supplies, changing demand for pork by consumers or a combination of supply and demand changes.