A while ago I blogged to express my concern at the direction the lamb market was taking.
This followed publication of data from the TNS Worldpanel - a regular analysis of the nation's shopping basket - which showed that, while pork, beef and poultry were doing OK in the recession, lamb was struggling quite badly.
For example, over the 52 weeks to 17 May, the total volume of lamb consumed by GB households was down by 5.3% at 98,700 tonnes, even though consumer spending was 4% higher.
And over the four weeks to 17 May, sales volumes were 14% lower than year-ago equivalents, while expenditure was 5% down.
It did not bode well for lamb values and since then farmgate prices have fallen dramatically as the supply of lambs has picked up seasonally. They are now below year-ago levels for the first time in a very long time.
But, while this trend is clearly worrying, with sheep producers' margins already wafer thin, there is still room for some optimism - especially if one reads the latest research from the Kent Business School and the IGD....
In contrast to the TNS Worlpanel data of a month ago, this analysis points to a 15% increase in fresh lamb sales over the past 12 months. Cheaper cuts have really benefited, according to this data, with sales of stewing and diced lamb up 30%, and even joints up by 13%.
I don't quite understand why the two sets of data are so different - perhaps it's because the IGD figures look at fresh lamb sales whereas the TNS Worldpanel data includes chilled and frozen products.
Or perhaps it is more down to the fact that the IGD data is based on the spending of Tesco Clubcard holders only rather than the retail market as a whole.
But, whatever the reason, there are some encouraging messages in this latest research.
For a start, there are significant regional and demographic differences within the retail market, and farmers and butchers who understand and respond to these will be well-placed to grow their market share.
More generally, there is growing consumer demand for food with a strong regional identity and for meat that comes from farming systems that are perceived to be welfare-friendly. Sheep tick both of these boxes!
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More recent figures have just come in from the AHDB Meat Services giving the latest lamb consumption figures from TNS Worldpanel.
These show lamb sales still suffering in the recession, though the figures are not quite as bleak as last month's.
In the 53 weeks to 14 June, annual consumer spending was up 2.8% to £641.5m, while the volume of lamb bought was down by 6.2%.
But in the four weeks to 14 June, consumer spending was 2.5% lower than year ago levels, while the volume bought was 9.6% down at 6,796 tonnes.