Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 2 hrs ago
Rising U.S. Protein Demand Pushes Beef Prices Higher
Americans’ demand for protein has grown as diets change, health guidance emphasizes protein and people using weight-loss drugs seek to preserve muscle.
Beef demand is rising as the U.S. cattle herd sits at its lowest level in decades, driving steak prices to nearly $13 a pound and ground beef to nearly $7.
The average American is expected to eat 59 pounds of beef this year, up from a low of 54 pounds in 2014.
Chicken remains the most-consumed and cheapest animal protein, with average consumption expected to reach 108 pounds per person this year.
Americans are expected to eat about 270 eggs each this year, while a dozen costs about $2.25, down from $6.25 in May 2025 after a rise largely linked to bird flu.
Pork consumption has stayed near 50 pounds per person a year for about 40 years, despite pork chops costing around a third as much as steak.
Rising food costs have also become a recurring issue in campaign speeches this fall, and the sources describe no further policy or market action.
Rising demand for protein and a decades-low U.S. cattle herd have pushed beef prices higher.
Steaks cost nearly $13 per pound and ground beef nearly $7 per pound, according to Folha.
Steak prices rose 3.5% in the past year and 16.6% over the past two years.
The average American is projected to eat 59 pounds of beef this year, up from a low of 54 pounds in 2014.
Chicken consumption has also grown, while pork consumption has remained nearly unchanged for 40 years.
- Who
- U.S. consumers, including higher-income buyers, are driving demand for beef and other protein.
- What
- Increased protein demand has helped push beef prices higher amid a decades-low cattle herd.
- When
- The article was published on November 1, 2026. It says steak prices rose over the past year and two years.
- Where
- United States.
- Why
- More consumers are seeking protein, including people using GLP-1 medicines; the cattle herd is at its lowest level in decades.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
U.S. beef consumption reached a low of 54 pounds per person.
Steak prices rose 16.6%.
The average American is projected to consume 59 pounds of beef.
- Steak price
- Nearly US$13 per pound
- Ground beef price
- Nearly US$7 per pound
- Beef herd
- Lowest level in decades
- Projected beef consumption
- 59 pounds per person this year
- Beef-consumption low
- 54 pounds per person in 2014
What people are saying
Consumers have never had so much ability and willingness to pay for excellent-quality beef, and the result in the market is higher prices