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Retail ground beef averaged $7.064 per pound in May, a record and up 13% from a year earlier, according to the BLS. Steak prices averaged $12.802 per pound.
Analysts tie the high prices to the smallest US cattle herd in 75 years, drought, and the new screwworm outbreak in Texas.
Record retail beef prices reflect a structurally tight cattle supply that is unlikely to ease soon, which supports live and feeder cattle prices. Analysts see recovery possibly delayed until 2028.
ttnews.comIlena PengJun 10, 2026After 268 past bullish report events, Live Cattle moved a median +0.3% over 5 sessions (58% higher; middle half -0.7% to +1.4%), and +1.7% over 20.
After 227 past bullish report events, Feeder Cattle moved a median +0.4% over 5 sessions (57% higher; middle half -1.2% to +1.5%), and +1.1% over 20.
Moves of each commodity's benchmark from the last close before the event. Historical reads pool past events of the same kind; they describe what happened, not what will. Not investment advice.
