U.S. Consumers Not Retreating From Higher Beef Prices

Beef prices in the U.S. have reached historic highs due to shrinking cattle herds.

So far, it seems that US consumers have no beef with the rising beef prices.

According to Federal Reserve data, the average price of ground beef in June rose to just over six dollars per pound nationwide, Lauren Soulek reported for KELO in South Dakota.

Calli Williams of the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association said the higher prices don’t seem to be discouraging consumers. “I’m not worried. I’m very thankful, too, that as a rancher, consumers continue to choose beef as their number one source of protein,” Williams said.

She noted that beef’s versatility allows shoppers to adapt based on their budgets by choosing different cuts.

Williams also recommended an online resource that helps consumers plan affordable meals without giving up beef.

“So, first I would send them to the ‘Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner’ website,” she said. “One great thing about our beef checkoff program is that they’ve already done the homework for you. You can go to their website and use a tool called the ‘Steak Swap.’ Whether it’s based on what’s available at your grocery store or your budget, you can take your recipe and swap in whatever cut of steak—or beef—you need.”