Following the surge in egg prices, American consumers are now facing rising beef prices due to tariffs, climate factors, and other influences. According to reports from American media, consumers are currently paying for "the most expensive hamburgers in history" as beef prices rise.
According to the Consumer Price Index released by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics on July 15, the average price of ground beef in June was US$13.49 per kilogram, the highest level on record. This figure is nearly 12% higher than the same period last year and 8% higher than in January. The US Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service also reported that steak prices have soared, rising about 8% compared to the previous year.
In a report released on July 17 titled "Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Outlook," the US Department of Agriculture's Economic Research Service stated that boxed beef prices in the US have increased by 21% in the first half of this year, leading the agency to revise its average beef price forecast for 2025 upward. Experts note that the rise in beef prices is a result of a long-term supply-demand imbalance. In addition to consecutive years of drought reducing ranch production and soaring feed costs, US trade policies have also contributed to the increase in beef prices.
On July 9, US President Trump announced on social media that starting August 1, a 50% tariff would be imposed on all goods imported from Brazil. Combined with existing tariffs, Brazilian beef faces a total tax burden of about 76% when entering the US market. As a result, the originally competitively priced Brazilian beef has lost its price advantage and can no longer compete in the US market, meaning American consumers have lost a low-cost source of beef and must pay more for the meals on their tables.
NBC News recently reported that this summer's hamburgers in America will be "the most expensive ever," while independent media outlet NTD News described the prices as "unprecedented." Many American consumers are therefore changing their eating habits.
Economists at the US Department of Agriculture pointed out in their report that, in light of the Trump administration's tariff policies, the rise in US beef prices will not ease in the short term, and American consumers will have to spend more money for less beef for an extended period.
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