How much more will your barbecue cost this Memorial Day weekend? Well, our get the facts data team wanted to know, so we pulled the Consumer Price Index data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Spoiler alert, beef is getting more expensive. If you’re grilling steaks this weekend, sirloin prices are up about 17% compared to last year. Burgers are getting pricier too. Ground beef prices are up roughly 19%. And if you’re topping those burgers with tomatoes, Those prices have surged nearly 50% over the last year. That’s something economists have been watching closely. It’s driven by *** mix of tariffs, rising energy costs, and weather-related supply issues. Lettuce prices are also up roughly 10%. Now, before I bum you out, not everything is getting more expensive. Cheese prices are actually down about 6% compared to *** year ago. And if you’re making *** potato salad this weekend, potatoes are about 10% cheaper compared to last year.
Your summer barbecue will cost more this year. Here’s how much and why
Steak is up $2 per pound from last year, while chicken got slightly cheaper.
Updated: 4:29 PM EDT May 22, 2026
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What you put on your grill may be more expensive this year. Steak and ground beef prices are hitting record highs as cattle supplies struggle to keep up with demand. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows sirloin steak prices rose to $14.73 per pound in April 2026, up $2 from the same time last year. Ground beef also hit a record $6.90 per pound, about $1 more than a year earlier. The U.S. cattle herd has fallen to a 75-year low, with 86.2 million head of cattle and calves recorded on U.S. farms as of January 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This is due to several factors, including drought, high input costs and aging ranchers. Despite the cost, Americans are eating more meat than ever. The USDA's latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report estimates that, in 2026, total U.S. beef consumption will be 29.38 billion pounds, up 1.3%, or 390 million pounds, from 2025. But not everything went up. The average price of whole chicken fell 3 cents to $2.03 per pound compared with April of last year. Produce such as corn and potatoes is also slightly cheaper.Calculate the cost of your summer grill with our calculator below.
What you put on your grill may be more expensive this year. Steak and ground beef prices are hitting record highs as cattle supplies struggle to keep up with demand.
Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows sirloin steak prices rose to $14.73 per pound in April 2026, up $2 from the same time last year. Ground beef also hit a record $6.90 per pound, about $1 more than a year earlier.
The U.S. cattle herd has fallen to a 75-year low, with 86.2 million head of cattle and calves recorded on U.S. farms as of January 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This is due to several factors, including drought, high input costs and aging ranchers.
Despite the cost, Americans are eating more meat than ever. The USDA's latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report estimates that, in 2026, total U.S. beef consumption will be 29.38 billion pounds, up 1.3%, or 390 million pounds, from 2025.
But not everything went up. The average price of whole chicken fell 3 cents to $2.03 per pound compared with April of last year. Produce such as corn and potatoes is also slightly cheaper.
Calculate the cost of your summer grill with our calculator below.
