US meat prices surge as beef hits record and consumption stays high

American households continue to buy meat in large numbers, with 98% purchasing beef, pork or chicken each week. The market analysis by the American Farm Bureau forecasts total meat sales of $112 billion in 2025 and expects consumption to rise in 2026. Beef prices set a new record of $9.64 per pound in April, up about 13 % from a year earlier, driven by tight cattle inventories – the smallest herd in the United States in 75 years. Pork prices rose 2.3 % to $4.33 per pound for chops, while chicken prices slipped slightly, with boneless breasts at $4.17 per pound.

The high costs are linked to broader economic factors. Editorial commentary notes that a 40 % increase in the U.S. money supply since 2020 has reduced the dollar’s value, amplifying food prices. The cattle herd has contracted to 86.2 million head, the lowest since 1951, as drought, higher feed and fuel costs, and an ageing farmer population reduced herd size. A recent detection of the New World screwworm fly in a Texas calf raised additional concerns for livestock health. The piece also highlights that Bill Gates, the nation’s largest private farmland owner, has invested in plant‑based and cultured‑meat companies, fueling speculation about the future of meat production.