GLOBAL ECONOMIC MELTDOWN: Precursors To A Global Financial Collapse - Over 100 Walmart Stores Shut Down For Good In The United States In Small Towns And Rural Areas; A "Double Blow" For Many Frustrated Residents; Will Impact THOUSANDS Of Employees; Company Shares Down 25 PERCENT Over The Past 12 Months!

February 2, 2016 - UNITED STATES - More than 100 Walmarts around the country shut their doors Thursday for good -- many in small towns and rural areas with few other shopping options.

The retailer cites a long-term strategy shift and financial performance. Company shares are down 25 percent over the past 12 months, and the nationwide closures will also impact thousands of employees, reports CBS News correspondent David Begnaud.

"It's maddening because Walmart chose to do this," said resident Retha Thompson, who feels betrayed by Walmart's decision to leave Whitewright, Texas just 12 months after its grand opening. "They chose to come here and then when they put the other grocery store out of business, they want to close down and leave. I'm mad."

She's talking about "Pettit's," the mom and pop grocery that was a mainstay in this small town for nearly 60 years.

"Business - it just quit coming," Larry Deeds, the store's co-owner said.

Pettit's closed about nine months after Walmart opened.

"It's almost enough to bring a tear to your eye to see all these shelves empty," said Will Pettit, who worked here since he was 16.

When Walmart moved in last year, Whitewright's Mayor Allen West said a little competition from Walmart was a good thing. But now that it's leaving, "it's going to hurt the city financially, it's going to hurt the citizens economically and not good for their mental status," the mayor said.

Walmart is closing 154 stores in 27 states, many of them in small towns. In a statement to CBS News, Walmart said:

"The decision to close some of our stores was not easy and we share in the communities' disappointment. We're always searching for opportunities to serve more customers throughout the country -- especially those in underserved communities. We're now focused on where we can help impacted communities through our plans for charitable giving and expediting the process to work with potential buyers for these locations."

"Communities are finally getting a look at not only the effects of when Walmart comes into town, but also when they leave," said Bloomberg news reporter Shannon Pettypiece. "And I think that is a double blow for a lot people."

But Deeds said Walmart doesn't deserve all the blame.

"I lost some customers that had been coming to me for 20 or more years," Deeds said.

And now that Walmart is closed, Retha Thompson will drive half an hour to the closest grocery store.

"It won't be Walmart. I'm done with Walmart," Thompson said.

Two of Thompson's daughters-in-law were Walmart employees. They were offered either a severance package or the opportunity to relocate to work at another store, as goes for thousands of other employees across the country. - CBS News.

GLOBAL FOOD CRISIS: U.S. Bureau Of Labor Statistics - Price Index For Meats, Poultry, Fish & Eggs Rockets To All-Time High!

June 22, 2014 - UNITED STATES - The seasonally-adjusted price index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs hit an all-time high in May, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

(AP Photo)

In January 1967, when the BLS started tracking this measure, the index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs was 38.1. As of last May, it was 234.572. By this January, it hit 240.006. By April, it hit 249.362. And, in May, it climbed to a record 252.832.

“The index for meats, poultry, fish and eggs has risen 7.7 percent over the span [last year],” says the BLS. “The index for food at home increased 0.7 percent, its largest increase since July 2011. Five of the six major grocery store food group indexes increased in May. The index for meats, poultry, fish, and eggs rose 1.4 percent in May after a 1.5 increase in April, with virtually all its major components increasing,” BLS states.

In addition to this food index, the price for fresh whole chickens hit its all-time high in the United States in May.

In January 1980, when the BLS started tracking the price of this commodity, fresh whole chickens cost $0.70 per pound. By this May 2014, fresh whole chickens cost $1.56 per pound.

A decade ago, in May 2004, a pound of fresh chicken cost $1.04. Since then, the price has gone up 50%.

Each month, the BLS employs data collectors to visit thousands of retail stores all over the United States to obtain information on the prices of thousands of items to measure changes for the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

The CPI is simply the average change over time in prices paid by consumers for a market basket of goods and services.

The BLS found that there was a 0.7% change in the prices for the food at home index in May, which tracks foods like meats, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy, as well as many others. - CNS News.

EXTREME WEATHER: The Global Food Crisis - Drought Impact Expected to Hit United States Groceries in January!

November 8, 2012 - UNITED STATES - Look for higher prices at the grocery store as soon as January as the impact of this year’s record drought that slashed corn and soybean yields is felt by consumers.  Prices for corn and soybeans are higher than a year ago, with corn prices 23 percent higher and soybean prices 20 percent higher.

"These higher grain prices continue to put pressure on grain users, from ethanol plants to livestock farmers,"
says Dave Miller of the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation. (Nikole Hanna/The Gazette).

The increase in corn prices will affect farmers’ feed prices for their livestock, and that will trickle down to consumers in the form of higher meat prices at the supermarket.  “These higher grain prices continue to put pressure on grain users, from ethanol plants to livestock farmers,” said Dave Miller, director of research and commodity services for the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation in West Des Moines. “Whether you’re feeding your family or your livestock next year, you’ll feel a pinch in your pocketbook.  “In the past few weeks, ethanol production is running 12 percent below last year’s levels. Cattle, hog and poultry farmers are trimming back production expectations for the coming year.”  As farmers bring livestock to market sooner and at lighter weights, meat supplies are fairly strong. Miller warns that this will change at the beginning of the year.  “Lower production levels are expected to support beef and pork prices in 2013,” Miller said. “Consumers can expect higher meat prices in the coming year as livestock farmers continue to make adjustments due to the continued strength and increases in feed costs.”

While Iowa farmers sustained lower corn yields due to the drought, the state still leads the nation in corn production, according to Miller.  “The statewide corn yield is estimated to be 140 bushels per acre, down 32 bushels per acre in 2011,” he said.  Iowa farmers raised 1.9 billion bushels of corn this year, accounting for nearly 18 percent of U.S. corn production.  Iowa soybean fields weathered the drought better than expected. Iowa farmers are expected to harvest an estimated 399 million bushels of soybeans, representing 14 percent of the nation’s soybean production.  Soybean yields also were down from last year, estimated at 35.3 bushels per acre.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture will release its monthly crop production report on Friday. - The Gazette.