Ground beef hits record $6.90 per pound

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said on May 22 that the U.S. average price for 100% ground beef rose to $6.899 per pound in April, a record level heading into Memorial Day weekend. The same BLS table showed all uncooked ground beef at $7.056 per pound, up 14.9% from a year earlier, while all uncooked beef steaks reached $13.024 per pound, up 17.1%. Fox Business, citing the April consumer price data, reported on May 22 that ground beef was up 14.5% year over year and steak was up 16.1% for Memorial Day grilling. Quartz reported the same day that the national average for a pound of ground beef stood at a record $6.90 ahead of the holiday weekend. ### How high did beef prices get before Memorial Day? (bls.gov) BLS data for April showed several beef categories at elevated levels, not just basic ground beef. Ground chuck reached $6.921 per pound, lean and extra lean ground beef hit $8.512, and chuck roast rose to $9.495, according to the agency’s U.S. city average table. Quartz said the $6.90 figure added to the pressure on households already facing higher holiday food costs. (foxbusiness.com) Fox Business said barbecue staples from frankfurters to vegetables also posted year-over-year increases, though chicken prices were down slightly from a year earlier. ### Why are cattle supplies so tight? The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service said on January 30 that there were 86.2 million head of cattle and calves on U.S. farms as of Jan. 1, 2026. (bls.gov) That was slightly below the 86.5 million head a year earlier, with beef cows down 1% to 27.6 million head and the 2025 calf crop down 2% to 32.9 million head. (qz.com) ConsumerAffairs reported on May 22 that drought, feed costs and other operating expenses had pushed ranchers to reduce herd sizes, tightening supplies as summer grilling demand builds. Kelly Schmidt, chief executive director of the Minnesota Beef Council, told KSTP-TV that the U.S. cow herd is “the smallest it’s been in over 70 years.” (nass.usda.gov) ### Are shoppers seeing increases beyond burgers and steaks? Fox Business reported that the BLS index for frankfurters was up 10.7% from a year earlier, while fresh vegetables rose 11.5%. Tomato prices were up 39.7%, lettuce rose 7.9%, and cakes, cupcakes and cookies increased 5.1%, according to the report. ConsumerAffairs said pork, chicken, sausages and plant-based proteins were emerging as cheaper alternatives for holiday cookouts as beef prices climbed. (consumeraffairs.com) The outlet said demand for burgers and steaks typically rises during the summer grilling season, limiting retailers’ incentive to discount beef heavily during holiday weekends. (foxbusiness.com) ### If meat costs more, what is getting cheaper? WIRED reported that some Memorial Day promotions on grills, griddles and pellet smokers were as much as $250 off, according to the media briefing supplied for this story. USA Today also published a May 22 roundup of grill deals at retailers including Lowe’s, Ace Hardware and REI. (consumeraffairs.com) USDA’s January cattle report and the BLS April price table are the next reference points for tracking whether the squeeze eases. Memorial Day retail promotions on grilling equipment were still running through May 26 at several major chains, including Lowe’s, according to USA Today deal coverage. (nass.usda.gov) (usatoday.com)