Asymmetry in Retail, Wholesale, and Shipping Point Pricing for Fresh Vegetables

Abstract

Abstract The linkage among retail, wholesale, and shipping point prices for a select group of fresh vegetables is measured using Wolffram's asymmetry model. Procedures for dealing with discontinuous time series are shown, and Granger's causality test is used to show the direction of the price linkage. Wholesale prices are shown to lead both retail and shipping point prices. Asymmetry in the retail‐wholesale response indicates that wholesale price decreases are reflected at the retail more so than are wholesale price increases. Wholesale price decreases are more fully passed through to the shipping point relative to wholesale increases.