Willy, my Theory: that it is the spread between the price in live cattle and lean hogs (not seasonality, or simply price of hogs) that influenced McRib Timing. You briefly mention beef price, but dont get into it.
http://www.financeandmagic.com/2011/11/mcrib-arbitrage-its-all-in-spread.html
Also: when you get historical, you should consider the real price of lean hogs instead of the nominal price for profitability.
On A Conspiracy of Hogs: The McRib as Arbitrage
Willy, my Theory: that it is the spread between the price in live cattle and lean hogs (not seasonality, or simply price of hogs) that influenced McRib Timing. You briefly mention beef price, but dont get into it.
http://www.financeandmagic.com/2011/11/mcrib-arbitrage-its-all-in-spread.html
Also: when you get historical, you should consider the real price of lean hogs instead of the nominal price for profitability.