Got Beef? U.S. Beef prices rise above $5 a pound

dmcowen674

No Lifer
Oct 13, 1999
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www.alienbabeltech.com
6-15-2012

http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/the-exchange/beef-expensive-dinner-214902964.html

Planning a Father's Day barbeque this Sunday?


Throwing a few steaks and burgers on the grill, you might have noticed, has gotten more expensive as the cost of beef has climbed over the past year.



And it's only going higher, say economists.

The average retail price of beef from January through April this year is 7.7% higher than the same period a year ago

Two main factors have contributed to the rise: a drought that devastated parts of the U.S. last year and a shrinking supply of cattle.

Another reason behind smaller cattle herds, says Riley, is higher costs for feed and fuel, as well as higher capital costs to enter the business.

Americans Eating Less Meat

Tied to the decrease in production is the fact that Americans have been eating less meat
 

CPA

Elite Member
Nov 19, 2001
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I pay a little over $4/lb for lean (93/7) ground beef at Kroger. It's been that way for years. 80/20 and 85/15 is still well under $4/lb.
 

Jaskalas

Lifer
Jun 23, 2004
35,471
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Obviously Big Beef has cut production to raise prices, they learned from Big Oil.
 

Moonbeam

Elite Member
Nov 24, 1999
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For some reason I am losing a taste for cuts of beef I used to love, sirloin in particular.
 

Charles Kozierok

Elite Member
May 14, 2012
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Some perspective:

pm-gr-foodprices-462-02.jpg


Source.
 

thraashman

Lifer
Apr 10, 2000
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Is Dave trolling himself with this thread or is he serious? I really don't know anymore.


Thread-crapping is not allowed.

Administrator Idontcare
 
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woolfe9999

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2005
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Where the heck is steak $4.90/lb? That's maybe the price for the cheapest cut rather than the average. Maybe steak is just more expensive than average where I live.
 

xBiffx

Diamond Member
Aug 22, 2011
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Where the heck is steak $4.90/lb? That's maybe the price for the cheapest cut rather than the average. Maybe steak is just more expensive than average where I live.

I think its mistake. Get it.....

Vinegar is not listed on the chart so I have no idea what to think.

I haven't seen any price increases and pork seems to be cheap as ever, especially here in the pork capital.
 

nextJin

Golden Member
Apr 16, 2009
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I almost exclusively shop at farmers markets and only goto the grocery for misc stuff I can't get elseware. That said I find it hard to believe considering Americans have gotten far more advanced at killing animals than even a quarter century ago. We can grow a chicken 4 times bigger in 1/3 of the time and there are cattle farms in the midwest that are literally filled with cattle as far as the eye can see waiting to get turned into burgers and steaks :)
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Mar 20, 2000
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that says average price, so the few decent steaks that you can cut out of a cow are balanced by the cheaper cuts and primals.

i don't need a steak when i can get choice brisket packers at costco.
 

waggy

No Lifer
Dec 14, 2000
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I just got 2.9lbs of hamburger (80%) from the butcher. cost me $9.45

again from the butcher not a store so its good shit. the store is $3.12 a lb not sure where the OP is shopping

edit: i as wrong on the amount of meat. 2.9lbs oops
 
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Capt Caveman

Lifer
Jan 30, 2005
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Is Dave trolling himself with this thread or is he serious? I really don't know anymore.

Well, if he actually read and could understand the articles he posts, he wouldn't need to post.

Two main factors have contributed to the rise: a drought that devastated parts of the U.S. last year and a shrinking supply of cattle.
 

woolfe9999

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2005
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that says average price, so the few decent steaks that you can cut out of a cow are balanced by the cheaper cuts and primals.

i don't need a steak when i can get choice brisket packers at costco.

Where I am the price of steak ranges from about $4.50 for the cheap cuts to about $12 for the best cuts (filet), and around $9-10 for "good" cuts (ribeye/NY). I don't think $4.90 is the average, but then again, maybe the vast majority of steaks sold are the cheap cuts.

I like my steak so I'm pretty up on the market.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
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I went to the store earlier to pick up something for lunch. As I was walking in, they had a big display of t-bones and porterhouse steaks. Either $5.98 a pound or $6.98 a pound. Nice big 24oz steaks. Yum, I know what I'm cooking on Father's Day.
 

woolfe9999

Diamond Member
Mar 28, 2005
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I went to the store earlier to pick up something for lunch. As I was walking in, they had a big display of t-bones and porterhouse steaks. Either $5.98 a pound or $6.98 a pound. Nice big 24oz steaks. Yum, I know what I'm cooking on Father's Day.

You should probably take a look at the grade of that steak. It's probably select grade/low marbling and not all that great. I don't mean to be a killjoy. Just letting you know.
 

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
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You should probably take a look at the grade of that steak. It's probably select grade/low marbling and not all that great. I don't mean to be a killjoy. Just letting you know.

You don't have to be a killjoy. But, they were excellently marbled. I purchase steaks about once a week on average - generally ribeyes or NY Strips, but porterhouse or t-bones when available. I looked at a few packages and decided to pick some steaks up on my way home. I go to one of those grocery stores where they have that guy - what's he called again? A butcher. I.e., the hamburger is ground right there in the store, steaks are cut on the big bandsaw thing, etc., vs. coming from some giant meat place 500 miles away. I don't know what the source of their beef is, though I do know that during fair season, they buy their beef from local 4-H kids at the fair (and the beef is incredible.)
 
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Svnla

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Nov 10, 2003
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I bought some steaks last night and cooked it. It was $2.98/lb on sale and it was delicous.
 

ElFenix

Elite Member
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Mar 20, 2000
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Where I am the price of steak ranges from about $4.50 for the cheap cuts to about $12 for the best cuts (filet), and around $9-10 for "good" cuts (ribeye/NY). I don't think $4.90 is the average, but then again, maybe the vast majority of steaks sold are the cheap cuts.

I like my steak so I'm pretty up on the market.

how many pounds of ribeye and strip is there in a cow compared to other marketable meat?

remember, this is not the average price of steak being reported. it's the average price of beef.