The Ground Beef Index
Average retail price per pound, 100% ground beef (U.S. City Average)
Last updated: · Data through July 2026
BLS put 100% ground beef at $6.885 per pound in July 2026.
Then
2017
$3.77/lb
Now
2026
$6.89/lb
Change
2017–2026
+83%
↑ Rising
The Ground Beef Index: 2015–2026
Average retail price per pound, 100% ground beef (U.S. City Average)
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (FRED series APU0000703112)keepingupwithinflation.com
Historical Datakeepingupwithinflation.com
| Year | Price | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $4.24 | — |
| 2016 | $3.92 | -7.5% |
| 2017 | $3.77 | -3.8% |
| 2018 | $3.81 | +1.1% |
| 2019 | $3.82 | +0.3% |
| 2020 | $4.17 | +9.2% |
| 2021 | $4.48 | +7.4% |
| 2022 | $4.85 | +8.3% |
| 2023 | $5.09 | +4.9% |
| 2024 | $5.35 | +5.1% |
| 2025 | $6.12 | +14.4% |
| 2026 | $6.88 | +12.5% |
Analysis
Ground beef prices remain close to record territory. BLS average-price data put fresh regular 100% ground beef at $6.885/lb in July 2026 — about 83% above the 2017 baseline used on this tracker.
The driver is the cattle cycle. The U.S. beef cow herd shrank to its smallest size since the 1960s after years of drought pushed ranchers to liquidate herds. Rebuilding takes years, so supply cannot respond quickly to high retail prices. Feed, labor, processing, and transportation costs add pressure.
This series excludes ground chuck, round, sirloin, and pre-formed patties. Average-price data describe the retail dollar level; BLS recommends the corresponding CPI category when measuring price change over time. Updated August 15, 2026.