Food costs jumped last month, and it is not just eggs that are taking a bigger bite out of your pocket.
Yesterday’s CPI report showed the cost of cooking meals at home jumped half a percent last month. On the year, grocery prices are up just shy of two percent.
Eggs have been more expensive recently, but meats also saw a jump. Bacon now costs four percent more than last month and is up six percent on the year. Beef also saw a rise, gaining five-and-a-half percent on the year.
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The USDA opened a new sterile fly-dispersal facility at Moore Air Base in South Texas to prevent a potential outbreak of New World screwworm and protect the small U.S. cattle herd.
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Cuba remains a steady, nearby buyer of U.S. poultry, pork, dairy, and staples, but legal and compliance risks could still affect shipping and payment channels.
Tight cattle supplies favor poultry and pork while keeping beef margins under pressure.
While access to China remains uncertain, U.S. beef exporters are finding resilience and opportunity in other global markets, which could help maintain industry value and expand export opportunities.
Strong corn exports offer support, while soybeans and wheat remain weighed down by ample global supplies, according to the USDA’s latest WASDE report for February.
Higher livestock prices reflect resilient demand, even as disease and herd shifts reshape 2026 supply expectations.
