Wing inventory on February 28th 2022. at 67.6 million pounds was 70.6 percent above February 28th 2021 denoting lower domestic demand. This in part is attributed to wing fatigue and competition from “boneless” wings. During February wing inventory declined by 8.0 million lbs. representing 10.5 percent of the January 31st 2022 inventory. This is attributed to 2022 Super Bowl sales.
A survey by the National Retail Federation indicated that consumers planned to spend $14 million on the 2022 Super Bowl with beverage and food as the major expenditures. During the Super Bowl 2021 weekend, 1.4 billion wings were consumed with the anticipation of a higher number in 2022. Activist groups such as Compassion in World Farming, opposed to intensive livestock production, are promoting plant-based wing substitutes. This organization projects that “ten million Americans will pass on chicken wings in 2022”. 
This is based on surveys denoting that 33 percent of consumers are flexitarians and six percent are vegetarians. Despite disputing these claimed figures, probably based on carefully worded surveys, it is questioned whether the limited survey group was representative of the 100 million viewers who were expected to watch the game or participate in a national tradition of eating spiced wings as a centerpiece of home entertaining.
There was a sharp increase in the retail price of wings from $2.80 per pound in January 2021to $3.50 per pound in January 2022. On January 28th the USDA Broiler Market News Report documented the southern states wholesale wing price at $2.50 per pound confirming high markups taken at retail. On March 25th price dropped by 15.9 percent to $2.11 per lb. Wings were the only broiler product among nine categories to fall in price during the period from mid-February through mid-March 2022. Accordingly the broiler industry cannot be blamed for inflation in the price of wings. High retail markups are effectively suppressing demand especially among budget-conscious consumers.