Beef Marketplace Update
Four Weeks Ending 6/14/2026
Retail snapshot ending June 14th, 2026 from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, highlights beef continuing to see record retail sales throughout the first six months of 2026.
Spending Behavior
When surveying consumers throughout 2025, there was an expectation of increased spending levels the next six months across staples such as groceries, gasoline, healthcare and rent/mortgage while decreased spending at restaurants, clothing and entertainment/leisure. Midway through 2026, consumers are experiencing increased inflationary pressure across a number of marketplace staples. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ monthly inflation report, which includes data through May 2026, food prices increased more than 3% year over year, led by a 3.5% increase in food away from home. Energy prices, including gasoline, rose more than 20%, while shelter costs increased 3.3%. Insurance costs, however, declined more than 6% following an increase throughout 2025.
Source:. Consumer Beef Tracker, January - December 2025. Q2: Thinking about the last 6 months, for each of the following activities, how has your spending changed? Analysis: National Cattlemen's Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff.
Marketplace Overview
Fresh meat retail performance remained value-led across the measurement period, with dollar sales growth outpacing volume performance. Beef was the primary driver of category value, generating $46.8 billion in 52-week sales, up 9.8% versus year ago, and $11.7 billion over the latest 13 weeks, up 6.5%. However, volume growth was comparatively softer, with beef pounds up 2.2% over 52 weeks, essentially flat over 13 weeks at +0.2%, and down 3.2% in the latest 4 weeks. This suggests that beef’s dollar growth is being supported more by elevated pricing than incremental volume gains. Within beef, fresh ground beef was the strongest value contributor, up 13.7% over 52 weeks and 10.4% over the latest 4 weeks, while steak performance softened, declining 4.9% in dollar sales and 9.0% in volume during the latest 4 weeks. Overall, beef continues to outperform total fresh meat in dollar growth, but recent volume pressure points to consumers remaining engaged while managing higher price points.
Among non-beef proteins, performance was mixed across the measurement period, with value growth generally stronger than volume growth. Chicken remained the largest non-beef protein and delivered steady value growth, up 5.2% over 52 weeks, 2.6% over 13 weeks, and 0.3% over the latest 4 weeks, while volume also remained positive but moderated from 3.2% over 52 weeks to 0.5% over the latest 4 weeks. Turkey showed the strongest recent dollar momentum among the other proteins, with value sales up 5.2% over 52 weeks, 7.2% over 13 weeks, and 9.2% over 4 weeks; however, volume declined across all periods, indicating growth was price-led rather than demand-led. Pork was softer, with modest 52-week value growth of 2.3%, essentially flat 13-week growth of 0.1%, and a 1.9% decline over the latest 4 weeks, while volume weakened from slight growth over 52 weeks to declines of 2.0% over 13 weeks and 3.5% over 4 weeks. Meat alternatives continued to contract, with both value and volume down across every period, including 4-week declines of 10.6% in dollars and 12.2% in volume.
Source: Circana Multi-Market retail performance, period ending 6/14/2026 Analysis: National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff.
Source: Circana Multi-Market retail performance, period ending 6/14/2026
Analysis: National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff.
Source: Circana Multi-Market retail performance, period ending 6/14/2026
Analysis: National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff.
While beef volume is slowing compared to year-ago, volume remains up, compared to three and four year-ago totals.
ARMS: #062226-11