LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Grocery store meat prices increased 5.4% in July compared with the same month last year as consumers continued paying considerably more for beef.
The July Consumer Price Index showed overall grocery prices rising 3%. Prices for food purchased away from home increased 3.4%, according to the Labor Department. The broader inflation rate was 3.4%, slightly below the 3.5% annual increase reported in June.
Beef posted some of the largest increases in the grocery store. Overall beef prices climbed 9.4% from July 2025.
Fresh ground beef increased 9%, while steak prices rose 9.6%. Beef roast prices jumped 13.5% despite the product being outside its strongest seasonal demand period.
Other proteins followed different price patterns.
Fresh chicken cost 2.5% less than a year earlier. Overall pork prices increased just 0.5%, with pork chops up 0.7%. Bacon prices declined nearly 3%, while hot dog prices increased 6%.
Fresh and frozen seafood prices were approximately 8% higher.
Dairy prices remained relatively steady overall, but individual products moved in different directions. Whole milk increased 6%, while cheese fell 4.2% and butter dropped 8%.
Egg prices provided one of the largest areas of relief for consumers, falling 26% from a year earlier.
Coffee and candy prices increased about 10%, while fruit and vegetable prices rose 5%. Gasoline prices outside the grocery store were 25% higher than in July 2025.
Wholesale Markets May Slow Beef Price Growth
Recent wholesale trends suggest retail beef prices could begin leveling off during the second half of the year.
Lean beef trim prices have remained steady since late spring instead of following the sharp increase recorded during the same period last year. Prices for 50% lean beef trimmings have also remained below year-earlier levels during the past three months.
Wholesale strip loin and round prices have trended lower in recent months.
Poultry breast meat has been selling below last year’s prices as the industry moves toward a period of seasonally weaker consumer demand. Wholesale pork loin and belly prices have also remained below year-earlier levels. At times during the spring quarter, those pork products were 30% to 40% cheaper than a year earlier.
Beef Imports Rise as Exports Decline
Midyear trade figures showed the United States importing more beef while exporting less during the first six months of 2026.
Beef imports reached 3.3 billion pounds through June, an increase of 354 million pounds or 12%.
Brazil remained the largest foreign supplier at 717 million pounds, although shipments declined 3%. Imports from Australia rose 17% to 700 million pounds, while Canadian shipments increased 3% to 489 million pounds. New Zealand supplied 371 million pounds, up 7%.
Imports from Argentina more than doubled to 136 million pounds. Mexico shipped 398 million pounds of beef to the United States, a 30% increase.
U.S. beef exports moved in the opposite direction. Shipments fell 16% to 1.2 billion pounds during the first half of the year.
Exports declined 12% to South Korea, 18% to Japan, 12% to Canada and 17% to Mexico.
Pork Exports Post Modest Gain
Pork imports increased 5% to 584 million pounds through June.
Canada supplied 369 million pounds, accounting for 63% of total U.S. pork imports. Canadian shipments increased 10% from the previous year.
U.S. pork exports rose 3% to 3.6 billion pounds.
Mexico remained the leading destination and accounted for 38% of all pork exports. Shipments to Mexico increased 2% to 1.4 billion pounds.
Exports to Japan climbed 17% to 587 million pounds. Shipments to South Korea fell 6% to 348 million pounds.
Lamb and Poultry Trade Increase
Lamb imports rose 8% to 159 million pounds during the first half of the year.
Australia supplied 117 million pounds, an increase of 8%. Imports from New Zealand climbed 7% to 41 million pounds.
Mutton imports more than doubled to 28 million pounds. Shipments from Australia reached 21.3 million pounds, while New Zealand supplied 6.3 million pounds.
Broiler exports increased 1% to 3.2 billion pounds through June.
Turkey exports rose 12% to 211 million pounds. Mexico purchased 172 million pounds and accounted for 82% of all U.S. turkey exports during the six-month period.
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