livestock, food inflation, cattle inventory, cattle herd, beef prices, price hikes, US agriculture
February 15, 2026
America’s Vanishing Cattle Herd Drives 15% Price Hikes for Beef
While overall inflation has cooled, prices at the grocery store meat counter are a painful exception. The cost of beef has skyrocketed, with no relief in sight for consumers. Over the past year, the broad beef and veal category has surged by 15%, making it one of the fastest-rising items in the consumer price index. […]