Beef prices have climbed sharply across the United States in recent years, but Trader Joe’s has largely avoided the steep increases affecting many other retailers.
New purchase data from Numerator shows the average amount consumers spend per unit of beef has increased 25% since 2023, reaching nearly $14.70 during the 12 months ending July 31. That compares with $11.68 in 2023.
The increase has far outpaced other major meat categories. Average spending per unit rose about 4% for poultry and 6% for pork over the same period, with both remaining below $10 per unit.
Higher prices have pushed beef to a growing share of total fresh meat spending even as shoppers purchase relatively less of it. Beef now accounts for 56% of spending across fresh beef, poultry and pork, its highest share since 2019 and about one percentage point higher than a year earlier.
Numerator estimates that increase represents roughly $1 billion in additional beef spending.
However, beef’s share of units purchased fell 0.8 percentage points, while poultry gained one percentage point. The figures suggest rising prices, rather than greater beef consumption, are responsible for much of beef’s growing share of consumer spending.
Similar trends are showing up at fast-food restaurants. Since 2023, average spending on a beef sandwich or wrap at quick-service restaurants has increased 28% to about $6.70. Chicken sandwiches and wraps rose 12% to approximately $6.80.
That has nearly eliminated what had been a significant price advantage for beef. The average gap between beef and chicken sandwiches narrowed from about 80 cents in 2023 to just eight cents.
Trader Joe’s bucks the beef price trend
Trader Joe’s has experienced considerably smaller beef price increases than the broader retail market.
According to Numerator, average beef spending per unit at Trader Joe’s has increased just 7% since 2023, compared with the 25% increase seen overall.
The grocery chain appears to be benefiting from the difference. Trader Joe’s beef unit sales increased 4% over the past year while beef units sold across retailers declined about 3%.
The stronger sales contributed to more than $45 million in additional beef sales for Trader Joe’s, according to the data.
Trader Joe’s has previously said its ground beef comes from several countries outside the United States, which may have helped the retailer limit its exposure to rising domestic cattle and beef costs.
The figures come as the Trump administration considers additional steps aimed at reducing beef prices for consumers.
President Donald Trump recently proposed waiving tariffs on 300,000 metric tons of imported beef, a move that has drawn criticism from U.S. cattle producers concerned about increasing foreign competition.
Under the proposal, importers would be able to bring in beef used primarily for grinding at prices about 25% below current market levels during a 90-day period.
The United States imported approximately 5.5 billion pounds of beef last year, an 18% increase from 2024 and the largest amount in more than five decades.
Beef import volume has climbed nearly 50% over the past two years even as retail beef prices have reached record levels.
Industry analysts have warned that additional lower-cost imports could reduce demand from meatpackers for U.S.-raised cattle while improving margins for processors. Packer profitability recently climbed back above $100 per head as the industry navigates high cattle prices and tight domestic supplies.
