Apr 27, 2026
Americans are chickening out of eating beef.
Rising prices at the grocery store are pushing shoppers to reconsider what meat they serve for dinner, and beef is being cut from the menu. In March, ground beef averaged about $6.70 per pound, up 16% from the year before.
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The increase is part of a much more established trend. The surging prices are driven by a mix of supply constraints and the lowest cattle herd populations in 75 years. That record is due to drought and high feed costs. (1)
"Retail beef prices have flattened out for the last six months," Michael Swanson, Chief Agricultural Economist at Wells Fargo's Agri-Food Institute, told Axios. (2)
The price surge is directly impacting the menus for many families, making it harder for mainstays like tacos and burgers to remain affordable.
Nonetheless, chicken remains a cheaper option for budget-conscious shoppers. As a result, Americans are raiding the poultry sections of their grocery stores.
Beef prices are reshaping the American diet
Almost a year ago, drought and rising production costs forced ranchers to thin their herds. That supply crunch has continued and is expected to continue. The U.S. Department of Agriculture forecasts lower beef production in 2026, with output projected at about 25.79 billion pounds, while cattle prices are expected to remain high. (3)
"High cattle prices combined with the unpredictability of future prices and profitability could compel farmers to continue marketing a higher percentage of females for beef rather than breeding," American Farm Bureau Federation economist Bernt Nelson had written in a February 2025 blog post. (4)
Even as prices continue to rise, demand has remained stubbornly high, creating an imbalance that keeps costs high (2). To meet demand, the U.S. is importing more beef from other countries. In February, President Donald Trump signed a proclamation to increase the U.S.'s low-tariff imports of Argentinian beef (5).
That move was met by non-partisan criticism.
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"Instead of imports that sideline American ranchers, we should be focused on solutions that cut red tape, lower production costs, and support growing our cattle herd," Republican senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska said in a February statement. (6)
As beef becomes more expensive, consumers are trading down to chicken and pork, a trend that economists say could persist if beef prices stabilize. The average American was expected to consume 59.1 pounds of beef, 102.5 pounds of chicken and 50.3 pounds of pork in 2025. (7)
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Moo-ving on over
With beef prices expected to remain high for the foreseeable future, consumers are having to adapt on the fly.
One way is to ration how often people eat beef. Cutting a package of ground beef in half for use in pasta sauces or in other dishes like tacos, casseroles and stir-fries can help reduce costs without eliminating it. They can also buy in bulk or freeze portions for later use.
Shoppers can also look for value in less expensive cuts. No more ogling rib-eye, but a flat-iron steak or strip steak can help fill the void. (8)
Meal planning is another option available to Americans. Building menus around weekly discounts and inexpensive proteins can help trim the fat on the budget. It's also efficient to shop seasonally and locally. (9)
To avoid being tenderized at the grocery store, Americans will just need to get more creative with what's on their plates.
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
WBIR (1); Axios (2),(7); U.S. Department of Agriculture (3); American Farm Bureau Federation (4); The Guardian (5); Senator Deb Fischer (6); CNET (8); Ramsey Solutions (9)
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Brian Baker is an Associate Editor with Moneywise. He has been a media professional for over 20 years.
