DES MOINES, Iowa — An insatiable demand for bacon depleted frozen pork belly supplies in the U.S. to a record low level for December, but the pork industry is confident it can keep up with demand and avoid any serious shortages.

Bottom line: A pound of bacon may cost a little more as winter wears on, but prices should stabilize by summer.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture reported last week that pork bellies in cold storage fell to 17.7 million pounds last month, the lowest December inventory since records began in 1957. In comparison, more than 52.3 million pounds of pork bellies — the cut of the hog from which bacon is derived — remained in storage in December 2015.

“Veterans of the industry say clearly this is record-breaking stuff,” said Russell Barton, a market reporter. “December is the lowest on record. They really haven’t ever seen a situation like this before.”

Pork bellies are usually stockpiled in freezers at the end of the year and the first few months of the next year to get through the summer peak months when bacon consumption is highest, Barton said. This season, bacon demand was high enough that fresh pork bellies were used as quickly as they were produced, leaving significantly less meat to store.