Beef Price Seasonality

Jul 31, 2025

By David Anderson

The recent Consumer Price Index (CPI) that reported retail beef prices hitting new record highs has prompted a lot of questions about when consumers might see lower prices. Of course, we know tighter beef supplies and very good consumer demand are driving prices higher. But beef prices and different cuts have seasonal wholesale market price trends that suggest prices could decline from recent highs.

Ribeye steaks exhibit a seasonal pattern that peaks with the onset of grilling season, but they tend to decline after Memorial Day. They hit their annual peak price in late Fall as a holiday demand driven item. This year is no exception in that wholesale beef ribeyes peaked in price at $14.18 per pound, $5.09 per pound higher than last year, in May. They have since declined to $10.50 per pound, only slightly ahead of last year.

Source : osu.edu

Video: Season 7, Episode 1: Managing Risk and Seeing Opportunities in U.S. Pork Production

Today’s episode features three guests discussing the similarities and differences between pork production in the United States and Brazil, along with strategies for managing risk in today’s industry while recognizing and acting on opportunities. First, Dr. Anne Caroline de Lara, executive manager of live pig production at Seara Alimentos, a JBS company in Brazil, is joined by Dr. Matthew Turner, head of operations for JBS Live Pork. Together, they discuss how labor, climate and ventilation challenges vary between Brazil and the United States, while underscoring their shared commitment to raising healthy pigs. They also point to lessons producers in both countries can take from one another’s systems and on-farm experiences. Then, Brady Reicks, risk manager at Reicks View Farms, shares his perspective on risk management, drawing from his background in markets and his transition into farming. He discusses how protecting margins varies by operation and offers practical approaches producers can use to make marketing and business decisions with greater confidence rather than hesitation.

Both conversations were recorded at recent industry events focused on swine livability, including the International Conference on Pig Livability and Iowa Swine Day.