Ground beef hits $6.90 per pound

Quartz reported Friday that U.S. ground beef hit $6.90 per pound ahead of Memorial Day weekend, putting a staple of backyard cookouts at a record high. The figure came as grocery inflation accelerated in April and as beef prices continued rising faster than many other food categories, according to federal data. ABC7 New York, in a separate report Friday, told shoppers looking to hold down holiday costs to consider substitutions and store-brand options. The price spike lands just as Memorial Day marks the start of the summer grilling season in the United States. ### Where does the $6.90 figure come from? Quartz said the national average for a pound of ground beef stood at $6.90, citing Bureau of Labor Statistics data. The article described that price as a record high ahead of the holiday weekend and said it added to financial pressure for families planning cookouts. Federal data show a closely related benchmark running even higher. (qz.com) The St. Louis Fed’s FRED database, using Bureau of Labor Statistics average price data, listed April 2026 all uncooked ground beef at $7.056 per pound in the U.S. city average. That series covers all uncooked ground beef regardless of fat content or packaging and was updated on May 12. ### Why are beef prices still rising? Quartz said lower cattle supply and strong demand have pushed beef prices higher over the past five years. The outlet also cited a U.S. Department of Agriculture projection that beef prices will increase 6.3% in 2026, outpacing the agency’s longer-run historical growth rates. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said April food-at-home prices rose 0.7% from the prior month, while the broader food index rose 0.5%. (fred.stlouisfed.org) Within groceries, the meats, poultry, fish and eggs index increased 1.3% in April, and the beef index rose 2.7%, according to the agency’s April Consumer Price Index release. ### How much of this is a Memorial Day problem? (qz.com) Memorial Day weekend concentrates demand around burgers, hot dogs and other grilling foods, which can make price increases more visible to shoppers even when the underlying rise has been building for months. Quartz framed the latest move as part of a broader holiday-weekend squeeze for families already dealing with higher food costs. (dol.gov) ABC7 New York reported Friday that rising prices for meat, fruit and vegetables were affecting holiday shopping lists. Its report said consumers could trim costs by comparing store promotions, choosing lower-cost proteins or side dishes, and looking for other ways to keep barbecue spending in check. (qz.com) ### What are shoppers being told to do instead? ABC7 New York said some grocers and shoppers were looking at substitutions and savings strategies rather than dropping cookouts altogether. The station’s report focused on practical steps, including swapping in less expensive items and watching for deals as grocery prices rise. (abc7ny.com) NPR reported earlier this week that some consumers, faced with near-record beef prices, were turning to bulk purchases for savings. That points to a broader pattern: shoppers are still buying beef, but some are changing how they buy it. ### When will the next official read on prices arrive? (abc7ny.com) The Bureau of Labor Statistics data underlying the April average were updated on May 12, and the FRED series says the next release is scheduled for June 10. That update will give the next national snapshot of uncooked ground beef prices after the Memorial Day weekend buying rush. (fred.stlouisfed.org) (npr.org)