CHICAGO (RFD-TV) — Retail beef sales are holding steady, despite differences in consumer spending power. Analysts say that while some households are facing financial pressures, other consumers are helping to maintain overall demand.
Rich Nelson, chief strategist at Allendale Inc., notes this balance is likely to keep retail sales stable in the short term.
“We do have news that [retail sales] should be [stable],” he said. “We do have news that the lower third of consumers is struggling right now. However, we don’t really have that confirmed on the retail beef pushback yet. We’ve been speculating about this issue for two, if not three years. So far, the middle-class consumer and the higher-income consumer are making up for the concerns on the lower end here in the very short term.”
Nelson adds that cash cattle prices jumped $6 last week, but wholesale beef prices have dropped by $4 over the past few weeks, despite a rebound in cash cattle markets.
U.S. agriculture entered the week with mixed signals as weather, logistics, and markets shaped early-year decisions. Here is a regional breakdown of domestic crop and livestock production for the week of Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
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