Ground Beef Price History (2015–2026): From $3.77 to $6.89/lb
U.S. average ground beef price per pound — BLS 100% ground beef, charted year by year from 2015 through July 2026.
Last updated: · Data through July 2026
Ground beef hit $6.885/lb in July 2026 — 83% above the 2017 low of $3.77.
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
Looking up the current ground beef price? BLS average-price data put fresh regular 100% ground beef at $6.885/lb in July 2026 — about 83% above the 2017 low of $3.77 used on this tracker. Chart points through 2025 are annual averages; 2026 is the latest published month (July).
The climb has been steady, not a one-month spike. From the mid-$3 range in 2017–2019, the U.S. average crossed $5 in 2023, $6 in 2025, and is now near $6.89. The driver is the cattle cycle: the U.S. beef cow herd shrank to its smallest size since the 1960s after years of drought. Rebuilding takes years, so supply cannot respond quickly. Feed, labor, processing, and transportation 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. For the cattle-cycle story, see why ground beef is still rising. Updated August 20, 2026.