Steak
Average Steak Price per Pound
U.S. city average · September 2026
Steak averaged $12.69 per pound in September 2026; down 1.0% from last month; up 3.5% from last year, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average price data.
Chart shown: September 2021 – September 2026 · Full series: January 1998 – September 2026 (344 observations) · Source: BLS series APU0000FC3101.
Recent steak price history
| Month | Price | Vs. prior month | Vs. year ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2026 | $12.69 | ▼ 1.0% | ▲ 3.5% |
| August 2026 | $12.81 | ▼ 1.9% | ▲ 4.8% |
| July 2026 | $13.06 | ▲ 1.4% | ▲ 10.0% |
| June 2026 | $12.88 | ▲ 0.6% | ▲ 12.1% |
| May 2026 | $12.80 | ▼ 1.7% | ▲ 16.0% |
| April 2026 | $13.02 | ▲ 2.3% | ▲ 17.1% |
| March 2026 | $12.73 | ▼ 0.1% | ▲ 16.0% |
| February 2026 | $12.74 | ▲ 3.6% | ▲ 17.2% |
| January 2026 | $12.30 | ▼ 1.7% | ▲ 12.8% |
| December 2025 | $12.51 | ▲ 1.8% | ▲ 17.7% |
| November 2025 | $12.29 | — | ▲ 15.1% |
| September 2025 | $12.26 | ▲ 0.3% | ▲ 12.7% |
| August 2025 | $12.22 | ▲ 2.9% | ▲ 12.4% |
| July 2025 | $11.88 | ▲ 3.3% | ▲ 9.4% |
| June 2025 | $11.49 | ▲ 4.2% | ▲ 8.0% |
| May 2025 | $11.03 | ▼ 0.8% | ▲ 2.8% |
| April 2025 | $11.12 | ▲ 1.3% | ▲ 3.5% |
| March 2025 | $10.98 | ▲ 1.0% | ▲ 3.6% |
Steak prices fell 1.0% from August to September 2026. Steak prices are 3.5% higher than a year ago. Prices remain below the July 2026 peak of $13.06 but well above the 1998 level of $3.64.
From steak to the full grocery basket
Steak is a reference price series and is not weighted into the 24-item Basket Index.
Steak vs. Ground beef
In September 2026, steak averaged $12.69 per pound and ground beef averaged $6.79 per pound. The difference was $5.90 per pound (86.8%).
Methodology and source
BLS describes series APU0000FC3101 as “Uncooked beef steaks, per lb.” The BLS series is an aggregate average across uncooked beef steak cuts; it is not a price for ribeye, sirloin, strip steak, or any other single cut. BLS reports the U.S. city average on a monthly publication schedule. The latest valid observation on this page is September 2026; data were retrieved 2026-10-14 via the BLS Public Data API.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI Average Price Data, series APU0000FC3101.
Steak price FAQ
What is the average price of steak per pound?
Uncooked beef steaks averaged $12.69 per pound in September 2026 at the U.S. city average, according to BLS series APU0000FC3101.
Why are steak prices so high?
The BLS series measures price levels, not causes. In September 2026, the steak average was 2.9% below the series high of $13.06 from July 2026 and up 3.5% from a year earlier; any causal explanation requires separately sourced editorial analysis.
Does BLS track ribeye or sirloin prices separately?
This page uses BLS series APU0000FC3101, an aggregate for all uncooked beef steaks. It does not identify the reading as ribeye, sirloin, strip steak, or another individual cut.
Are steak prices higher than last year?
In September 2026, the average steak price was up 3.5% versus the same month one year earlier and down 1.0% versus the prior month.
What type of steak does the BLS price include?
BLS describes this series as “All Uncooked Beef Steaks.” It is an aggregate average across uncooked steak cuts, not a quote for one named cut or grade.
How much did steak cost in 2001?
In 2001, steak averaged $4.16 per pound at the U.S. city average — versus $12.69 today (September 2026), about 205% higher now.
Cite this
Basket Report. "Average steak price (U.S. city average)." Basket Report — Grocery Price Index. Retrieved October 14, 2026 from https://basketreport.com/prices/steak/. Data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series APU0000FC3101. <a href="https://basketreport.com/prices/steak/">Average steak price (U.S. city average) — Basket Report</a> (data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series APU0000FC3101; retrieved October 14, 2026) Basket Report. (2026). Average steak price (U.S. city average) [Data set]. Basket Report — Grocery Price Index. https://basketreport.com/prices/steak/