Americans are tightening grocery budgets as food costs stay high.
Circana data shows beef is holding strong, making up more than half of fresh meat sales, which is good news for cattle producers.
Meanwhile, plant-based alternatives are starting to lose ground. In-store branded products are on the rise as shoppers hunt for deals and value.
People are shopping more often but buying less each trip, and many are blending grocery runs with dining out while trying to cut food waste.
Beef demand at the grocery store is not just showing up on the shelves.
Cull cow prices are hitting record highs as tight cattle supplies and strong ground beef demand push markets higher.
The National price for 85% lean cull cow topped $300 per hundred pounds last week.
USDA reports retail ground beef prices also hit record levels in June.
Higher U.S. tariffs on Brazilian beef could mean fewer imports, which helps support domestic cull cow prices.
Producers could now have a choice: sell now or hold cows for next year’s calves. If more cows are slaughtered, it could slow herd rebuilding into 2026.
President Donald Trump says a deal is nearly done on lowering beef prices, but he has not released details.
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