Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 6/1/15


U.S. consumers paid 10.2 percent more for beef and veal products in grocery stores in April compared to a year ago and paid 0.4 percent more than they did in March, according to USDA.

In its monthly Food Price Indexes report, the agency forecast beef prices during 2015 would rise by 5.5 percent to 6.5 percent. This, on the heels of last year’s 12.1 percent rise in beef prices.    

Retail pork prices, however, declined by 3.7 in April compared to a year ago and declined by 2.8 percent from March. USDA now expects retail pork prices to decline by 1 percent or remain unchanged for the year during 2015.  The price declines come after retail pork prices rose by over 9 percent in 2014.

Poultry prices rose 3.1 percent in April versus a year ago, but remained unchanged from March. USDA predicts retail poultry prices to rise 2.5 percent to 3.5 percent during 2015. Last year retail poultry prices rose by 2 percent.

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