Steak
Average Steak Price per Pound
U.S. city average · June 2026
Steak averaged $12.88 per pound in June 2026, up 0.6% from last month and up 12.1% from last year, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics average price data.
Chart shown: June 2021 – June 2026 · Full series: January 1998 – June 2026 (341 observations) · Source: BLS series APU0000FC3101.
Recent steak price history
| Month | Price | Change vs. prior month | Change vs. year ago |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| February 2025 | $10.87 | ▼ 0.3% | ▲ 3.2% |
| January 2025 | $10.91 | ▲ 2.6% | ▲ 2.0% |
| December 2024 | $10.63 | ▼ 0.4% | ▼ 0.2% |
Steak prices rose 0.6% from May to June 2026 and are 12.1% higher than a year ago. Prices remain below the April 2026 peak of $13.02 but well above their 1998 level of $3.64.
Steak vs. Ground beef
In June 2026, steak averaged $12.88 per pound and ground beef averaged $6.83 per pound. The difference was $6.05 per pound.
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 June 2026; data were retrieved 2026-07-14 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 $12.88 per pound in June 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 June 2026, the steak average was 1.1% below the series high of $13.02 from April 2026 and up 12.1% 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 June 2026, the average steak price was up 12.1% versus the same month one year earlier and up 0.6% 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 $12.88 today (June 2026), about 210% higher now.
Cite this
Basket Report. "Average steak price (U.S. city average)." Basket Report — Grocery Price Index. Retrieved July 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 July 14, 2026) Basket Report. (2026). Average steak price (U.S. city average) [Data set]. Basket Report — Grocery Price Index. https://basketreport.com/prices/steak/