But pork prices have declined more than 60 percent since the epidemic broke out.

Livestock futures, which have dropped in the last few weeks, were not affected by pork prices.

Prices of finished foods advanced 1 percent in August, with pork prices leaping 8.7 percent.

This is why wholesale beef and pork prices are starting to crumble across the nation.

The high pork prices at the wholesale level in May "got to the retail level in June," he added.

An added problem for pork prices may appear tomorrow when the Agriculture Department issues its monthly cold storage report.

The state responded by subsidizing pork prices for students and the urban poor and called for increased production.

"Everyone says pork prices are high - I don't think so," he said.

Soybeans and corn rose, while energy products and pork prices fell.

In other futures trading, soybeans and corn rose, while energy products and pork prices fell.