Ground beef, 100% beef

Ground beef prices

U.S. city average · June 2026

$6.83 per pound

▲ 1.2% MoM ▲ 11.5% YoY

Ground beef averaged $6.83 per pound in June 2026, up 1.2% from last month and up 11.5% from last year, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average price data.

1% below the April 2026 peak of $6.90

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Ground beef price history Average price (USD per pound) · Monthly

Chart shown: January 1984 – June 2026 · Full series: January 1984 – June 2026 (508 observations) · Source: BLS series APU0000703112.

Quick take

Ground beef prices rose 1.2% from May to June 2026 and are 11.5% higher than a year ago. Prices remain below the April 2026 peak of $6.90 but well above the 1984 level of $1.29.

Why are beef prices still high? →

See ground beef in the Summer Cookout Index →

Ground beef price history by year

Every historical year is consolidated into one complete archive with annual averages, monthly prices, and inflation-adjusted values.

Browse the complete ground beef price history →

Explore this price

From ground beef to the full grocery basket

Ground beef added $0.16 to June’s basket change.

Relevant explainerWhy are beef prices still high? Price historySee the complete ground beef series 2026 monthly tableJump to this year’s observations Basket Index contributionGround beef added $0.16 to June’s basket change. Related pricesBrowse meat & poultry Regional comparisonCompare this staple across four U.S. regions Similar stapleBeef Roast or American Cheese

Ground beef vs. Steak

In June 2026, ground beef averaged $6.83 per pound and steak averaged $12.88 per pound. The difference was $6.05 per pound (47.0%).

What drives the price of ground beef

Beef prices move with the multi-year “cattle cycle.” Because a steer takes roughly two years to reach slaughter weight, ranchers cannot quickly add supply when prices rise. Drought is a major swing factor: when pasture dries out, ranchers cull herds — which can briefly lower prices but tightens supply, and raises prices, for years afterward as the herd is slowly rebuilt. The cost of feed grain in the feedlot adds a second layer on top of the cycle.

BLS series APU0000703112 tracks the average retail price of ground beef, 100% beef at the U.S. city average, measured per pound and reported monthly back to 1984.

Background: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service — Cattle & Beef. Price data: BLS series APU0000703112.

Ground beef price FAQ

How much does a pound of ground beef cost right now?

As of June 2026, ground beef averaged $6.83 per pound at the national U.S. city average, per BLS CPI Average Price Data.

Are ground beef prices going down in 2026?

The latest 2026 BLS reading shows ground beef prices up 1.2% versus the prior month and up 11.5% versus a year ago (June 2026).

What is the highest price ground beef has reached?

The record high is $6.90 per pound, set in April 2026; the record low is $1.17 in June 1986.

How much does one ounce of ground beef cost?

A pound contains 16 ounces, so at the latest $6.83 per pound, one ounce of 100% ground beef costs about $0.43.

Where does this ground beef price data come from?

From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI Average Price Data program, retrieved via the BLS Public Data API. BLS.gov cannot vouch for the data or analyses derived from these data after the data have been retrieved from BLS.gov.

How much did ground beef cost in 2001?

In 2001, ground beef averaged $1.69 per pound at the U.S. city average — versus $6.83 today (June 2026), about 303% higher now.

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Plain text

Basket Report. "Average ground beef price (U.S. city average)." Basket Report — Grocery Price Index. Retrieved August 1, 2026 from https://basketreport.com/prices/ground-beef/. Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series APU0000703112.

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<a href="https://basketreport.com/prices/ground-beef/">Average ground beef price (U.S. city average) — Basket Report</a> (data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series APU0000703112; retrieved August 1, 2026)

APA

Basket Report. (2026). Average ground beef price (U.S. city average) [Data set]. Basket Report — Grocery Price Index. https://basketreport.com/prices/ground-beef/