Beef prices surged to an all-time high in July as the market grappled with consistently strong demand and long-term issues in domestic production.
According to the latest consumer price index, which the Bureau of Labor Statistics published on Tuesday, the beef and veal index rose by 2.5% in July, compared to 0.2% for the broader food category. This capped an 11.3% increase over the past 12 months.
Meanwhile, the price of ground beef and uncooked beef steaks has risen by 11.5% and 12.4%, respectively, both now at record levels.
Yeah, IF the higher prices caused consumers to eat less beef, but that’s not necessarily going to happen.
Well if it makes you feel better the high prices have made me quit eating beef. I’ve switched it out for beans and sausage. I’m not vegan but I am cheap.
Sausage has the extra benefit that it’s already seasoned, so you don’t have to add extra.
I’m amazed the meat replacement companies didn’t start with sausage. The extra flavor would help mask any differences in the flavor of the “meat”
Vegan sausage has been around for nearly a decade and there’s zero taste difference.
What I find annoying is that many times the vegan/vegetarian options cost MORE than the carnist option. That’s absurd.
it’s explicable though.
if I can sell a hundred units a month of a product, and 1 units of an alternative product, then I probably get better prices on purchasing from the supplier on the more popular product, and it’s unlikely I can get a comparable discount on the other one. and the labor cost per unit sold on my end is going to be the same, and the unpopular product is going to cost me storage space as well. so to make it worth my while, I need to push the price as high as the picky customers will tolerate.
Beyond Need has indeed had sausages for quite awhile now.
Sample size of 1, but I’ve basically stopped buying beef since many years back because of how much more expensive it was as compared to chicken or vegetarian options. Granted, I like the climate benefits as well, but I wound down my beef purchasing before that was a more primary concern of mine.
This is in Sweden where beef prices as compared to alternatives have been high for a long time.