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U.S. Food Use Forecast to Rebound in 2024/25
U.S. all-wheat food use is raised 4 million bushels to 970 million, up 1 percent year to year and the third highest on record. The USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Flour Milling Products report, released February 3, showed that October–December 2024 wheat milled for flour was up 2 percent from the same period in 2023. Furthermore, net food imports remained strong in the latter several months of 2024, contributing to stronger food use. This year’s projected rebound in food use is a return to its long-term trend after a notable decline in 2023/24. U.S. all-wheat food use tends to increase over time with population growth, although the rise is not always continuous because dietary trends and economic downturns periodically contribute to weaker levels of consumption. In addition to dietary and economic trends, food use is also influenced by changes in flour users’ purchasing and stock holding patterns.