U.S. retail price of ground beef 1995-2023

The retail price of 100% ground beef in the United States has risen significantly in the last two decades. In 2023, a pound of ground beef cost 5.21 U.S. dollars, up from 2.41 U.S. dollars in 2008.

Cattle and beef production in the U.S.

In 2022, there were almost 29 million beef cows in the United States. Compared to sheep, pigs, and chickens, cows are very expensive to raise and require much more water, feed, and land per calorie generated. Though beef production fluctuates from year to year, there has been a positive trend in beef production in the last several years in the United States.

U.S. beef market

In terms of retail sales, beef is the leading type of fresh meat in the United States. On average, beef generates about 19 thousand U.S. dollars in sales per store per week, compared to approximately 10 thousand dollars for chicken, and less than five thousand dollars for pork. As of 2021, per capita consumption of beef in the United States amounted to about 59 pounds per year.