Americans Keep Burgers on Summer Menus as Beef Hits Record $9.64 a Pound
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 9
Americans Keep Burgers on Summer Menus as Beef Hits Record $9.64 a Pound
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 9
Summary
Record beef prices are colliding with summer grilling demand, yet burgers remain central as Americans weigh protein goals, health concerns and tighter food budgets.
USDA data showed fresh beef averaging $9.64 per pound in April, while NielsenIQ said ground beef prices rose 14% from a year earlier; 69% of Americans say food inflation makes healthy eating harder.
Protein still drives choices: 70% of Americans say it is the nutrient they most want, and the American Farm Bureau Federation said in May that meat demand continues to grow.
Health concerns are shaping how consumers build burgers rather than whether they eat them, with dietitians urging attention to leanness, saturated fat, sodium, portion size and the full meal.
Traditional toppings still dominate, underscoring a broader trend: consumers are balancing cost, nutrition and taste instead of abandoning beef altogether.