The prices of the beef arrive in hot this summer.
The prices of steak and chopped beef simply reached record heights, according to the inflation data of the June Labor statistics officewhich followed the prices of beef dating back to 1984. However, asks remained strong. The beef is the Second most consumed meat in the United StatesAfter all, and the summer barbecue season is a particularly popular period.
“The time of demand for peak beef generally occurs around July 4,” said Bernt Nelson, agricultural economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation. “During the second half, the request slows in a sort of seasonal way for the beef.” This means that prices could also drop a little.
But even after the Americans have moved their grids for the season, the American beef industry will continue with long -term supply problems.
Live herds have decreased in recent decades. They lost another 1% from 2024 to 2025, According to the American Department of Agriculture. The number of cows of beef that have dressed are also down 1%, reach a new low record. This means that the current cattle herd is the the smallest of the nation since 1951According to the Farm Bureau.
Climate problems have exacerbated the shortage. Agricultural experts say drought In recent years In the plains and Upper Midwest, dried up the budding for cattle. He forced farmers to reduce their herds and the number of cattle has still not restored.
“The drought conditions have really put a lot of stress to our farmers and their pastures on which they count to help feed livestock,” said Nelson. “When this happened, they have placed a high number of women on animal food on the market rather than holding them back to replace the herd. And that led us to this slow but regular contraction in the cattle herd.”
Import problems have also limited cattle supply. The US government suspended Imports of Mexico cattle in May due to the parasitic worm which affected cattle.
No more challenges await you. The price threatened by 50% of President Donald Trump on imports from Brazil, which is expected to start on August 1, could further tighten supply. About 8% of the American beef is imported from places like Brazil, Argentina and Australia, said Michael Swanson, agricultural economist of Wells Fargo. With imminent prices, Brazilian meat packaging is Rethink export to the United StatesAccording to a group of industry lobbies.
The chopped beef is on average $ 6.12 per book, up 11.84% compared to a year ago, according to the BLS, which means that a 6 ounce hamburger pancake could cost about 24 cents more than last summer. The steak is on average $ 11.49 per book, up 8.05% compared to a year ago.
All in all, the Department of Agriculture predicts the prices of the beef and the calf could increase by 6.8% overall this year. He expects lower price increases For pork and poultry.
Companies, in turn, flock to chicken, with fast food chains like McDonald’s, Wendy and Chipotle Offer new chicken options. Tyson Foods, one of the largest American meat companies, also recently launched new chicken items.
“When we have a difficult environment in the beef and you have an environment where there is probably less ox availability, it is useful and certainly in the total complex to be able to manage this multi-protein and multi-channel portfolio,” said Curt Calaway, financial director of Tyson Foods, in a presentation in May.
Walmart changes its beef strategy, open your first Installation of beef ready for the last case. The retail and grocery giant claims that the new installation will help it increase capacity and improve its supply chain, reduce costs and help consumers get high quality beef at low prices.
While cattle producers are trying to rebuild their herds, the reestablishment of the beef industry can take years, agricultural experts said.
“If I want to have more chickens, I just have to wait three to six months,” said Swanson. “If I want to wait more cattle, I have to wait three to four years to get much more cattle.”
