U.S. ground beef hits $6.90 per pound

U.S. ground beef is now averaging $6.90 a pound, a record in Bureau of Labor Statistics price data that has become a Memorial Day weekend warning for shoppers planning burgers and other cookout staples. Quartz reported the record price on May 23, citing the latest federal data, while Fox Business and other outlets said hosts should expect broader increases across beef, hot dogs and some produce items. The price jump lands at the start of the summer grilling season, when demand for burgers typically rises. ConsumerAffairs said some households are already looking at pork shoulder and other cuts as cheaper substitutes. ### Where did the $6.90 number come from? The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes monthly average-price data for selected consumer items, including ground beef, based on prices collected for the Consumer Price Index. The St. Louis Fed’s FRED database shows the national average price for “Ground Beef, 100% Beef” at $6.90 per pound in the latest monthly reading. BLS says those average prices are designed to show price levels for a given month rather than serve as the preferred measure of inflation over time. (finance.yahoo.com) April is the month attached to the latest federal average-price reading, even though the consumer-facing coverage appeared in late May ahead of the holiday weekend. That timing matters because Memorial Day shopping is happening after the monthly data release, not before it. ### Why are cookout staples getting more expensive? Fox Business reported on May 22 that Memorial Day grilling costs were “notably higher,” citing inflation data showing increases in beef, hot dogs and fresh vegetables. (fred.stlouisfed.org) CNBC also said key barbecue staples including ground beef, hot dogs and beer posted sharp price increases in the latest CPI data. The American Farm Bureau Federation said May 19 that beef prices were continuing to set records as demand stayed strong and the U.S. cattle herd remained at its smallest level in 75 years. Barron’s, citing the same broad supply backdrop, said years of drought and expensive feed had pushed ranchers to cut back. ### Is this only about burgers? Ground beef is the headline number, but it is not the only item moving higher. (foxbusiness.com) Fox Business said hot dogs and vegetables were also among the categories seeing higher prices for holiday hosts. ConsumerAffairs said beef prices were rising ahead of Memorial Day because of low cattle supply and strong demand, increasing pressure across common grilling purchases. (fb.org) CBS reported in April that USDA had estimated beef prices could climb more than 10% in 2026, and possibly as much as 18%, with food economist David Ortega saying he expected beef prices to remain high through the rest of the year and potentially into the next. ### What are shoppers being told to buy instead? ConsumerAffairs said pork products including chops, ribs and pulled pork are generally cheaper than comparable beef cuts. (foxbusiness.com) It specifically pointed to pork shoulder as a budget-friendly option for slow-cooked barbecue, giving cost-conscious shoppers a substitute if burgers are no longer the automatic centerpiece. (cbsnews.com) Yahoo Finance and local television reports also pointed shoppers toward price-tracking tools and closer comparison shopping as grocery bills rise into the holiday weekend. Those suggestions do not change the benchmark price, but they show how consumer advice is shifting from menu planning to cost management. (consumeraffairs.com) ### What should shoppers watch next? The next official checkpoint is the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ next monthly average-price update for food items, which will show whether ground beef stays near the current record or moves again. Until then, Memorial Day shoppers are relying on late-May retail pricing, media cost roundups and substitution advice from outlets such as ConsumerAffairs and Fox Business. (bls.gov) (msn.com)