Grocery beef prices dropped in August for the second month in a row, while the cost of other meats rose in the Bureau of Labor Statistics\u2019 latest consumer inflation update.<\/p>\n
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) gained 0.4%, leaving overall prices little changed over the last three months. The index is 3.4% higher since Aug. 2025, with most of the increase having occurred during March-May.<\/p>\n
All monthly data is seasonally adjusted, while 12-month figures are unadjusted.<\/p>\n
Energy commodities, which groups gasoline and fuel oils, jumped 4.2% in August after sharp declines in June and July, and is up 28% over the last 12 months, almost all of the increase coming in the last six months amid war with Iran.<\/p>\n
The overall food index rose 0.1% in August, with food inflation very modest over the last four months. Food prices are 2.7% higher than a year ago.<\/p>\n
Prices were unchanged last month for food-at-home \u2014 which equates to all groceries, the largest component of consumer food prices. Food-at-home prices have risen very minimally over the last four months and are 2.2% higher since Aug. 2025.<\/p>\n
Food-away-from-home, including dine in, takeout and delivery food service, rose 0.3% in August, putting it 3.4% higher over the last 12 months.<\/p>\n
Meats overall fell 0.2% last month for a second straight monthly decline, driven by the drop in beef, which makes up 55% of the meats index.<\/p>\n
The Beef and veal category fell 1% in August following July\u2019s 0.8% dip. Beef remains 5.9% more expensive over the last 12 months. Within the category:<\/p>\n
The price of uncooked ground beef was unchanged last month but remains 7.2% above the year-ago level.
\nThe price of uncooked beef roasts fell 1.7% in August but remain 8.4% higher over the last 12 months.
\nPrices for uncooked beef steaks dropped 1.5% last month but remain 4% higher than in August 2025.
\nUncooked other beef and veal prices rose 1.1% last month and are now 4.4% higher from a year ago.<\/p>\n
Pork prices rose 0.4% in August and are now 0.6% above the year-ago level. Within the category:<\/p>\n
Bacon and related products rose 0.4% in August but remain 3.4% lower over the last 12 months.
\nPrices for breakfast sausage and related products slipped 0.1% last month and are 0.1% lower compared to a year ago.
\nHam prices fell 1.4% in August but remain 4.2% higher over the last 12 months.
\nPrices for pork chops were unchanged last month and are 1.9% higher than in August 2025.
\nOther pork including roasts, steaks, and ribs jumped 2.6% in August and are now 1% above the year-ago level.<\/p>\n
Prices for frankfurters were unchanged in August but remain 5.3% higher for the last 12 months. Lunchmeat prices rose 0.3% last month and are now 1% higher over the last year.<\/p>\n
Chicken prices rose 0.4% in August but remain 2.3% lower than a year earlier. Within the category:<\/p>\n
Fresh whole chicken prices fell 0.5% last month and are 3% lower over the last year.
\nFresh and frozen chicken parts were 0.3% higher in August but remain 2.3% below the year-ago level.<\/p>\n
Prices for other uncooked poultry including turkey rose 0.8% last month and are now 11.5% higher for the last 12 months.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Grocery beef prices dropped in August for the second month in a row, while the cost of other…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":848744,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[28,101],"class_list":["post-848743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-economy","tag-business","tag-economy"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/848743","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=848743"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/848743\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/848744"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=848743"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=848743"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=848743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}