EEING GREEN expected to be each up at least 5 percent from last year. The feeling was that these increases would force wholesale prices lower and eat into packers' profits. This occurred to some extent for pork processors, but the opposite occurred for fed beef processors because domestic beef demand at both retail and foodservice was stronger than expected in the first half, fueled by a strong economy, declining unemployment and wage increases for most workers. Beef sold extremely well at retail even though average prices there were higher than last year. The fact that beef sold so well proved that demand was stronger than in the year-earlier period, analysts say. Even stronger demand for US beef and pork internationally occurred in the first half. Beef exports the first four months of the year were up 10 percent in volume to 429,286 metric tons (mt) and export value was $2.59 billion, www.meatpoultry.com | 07.18 | MEAT+ POULTRY 31http://www.meatpoultry.com