INDIANAPOLIS — If you often buy ground beef at the grocery store, you might have beef with how high the prices have climbed lately. The cost will likely not decrease anytime soon.
The average price of ground beef across the United States reached a record high of $6.12 per pound in June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In comparison, the average cost was slightly more than $5 per pound in January 2024.
Indiana Business Research Director Carol Rogers said the surging cost of ground beef has a cause with no easy fix.
"There are fewer ranches, and severe droughts back in 2021 and 2022 killed off a lot of cattle," Rogers said. "The concern is going to be, 'Do we have enough capacity to raise our own beef?"
She believes the cost will keep climbing while ranchers try to solve the cattle crisis.
"Beef prices are probably going to continue being high until early 2026," Rogers said. "If you have three kids, I don't think you're going to give them an eight-dollar-per-pound hamburger."
WRTV researched 80/20 ground beef prices at four neighboring markets in Southport: Meijer, Aldi, Target, and Kroger.
Aldi offered the lowest cost at $4.29 per pound, but only offered two-pound portions of ground beef.
Meijer's ground beef came in below the national average at $5.79 per pound.
Kroger and Target both eclipsed the $6 barrier. Kroger priced its ground beef at $6.33 per pound, while Target had the most expensive beef at $6.69 per pound.
Rogers said customers may soon reach a point where they leave the ground beef in the cooler.
"Higher prices will definitely make households decide to go to pork or fish or poultry," Rogers said.
-
Nearly 300 Indiana National Guard soldiers arrive in Washington, D.C.
Nearly 300 soldiers from the Indiana National Guard arrived in Washington, D.C., on Saturday to support the "Safe and Beautiful" mission.
More than 1,500 volunteers help make holidays brighter for Indianapolis families
More than 1,500 volunteers come together through Jewish Family Services’ Adopt-a-Family program to support over 300 people this holiday season.
WRTV team collects toys across the Indianapolis area for annual WRTV Toy Drive
For the 25th annual, the station partnered with the Salvation Army and stationed crews at three Kroger locations to collect donations aimed at bringing Christmas joy to local children.
No. 1 Indiana will face Oklahoma or Alabama in the Rose Bowl
The next stop on No. 1 Indiana's storybook journey to the top of college football is nothing less than the most fabled bowl venue in the sport.
