When is ground beef cheapest?

The best time to buy ground beef, from 20 years of U.S. government shelf prices.

Barely moves

Ground beef barely has a season: buy it when you need it.

The cheapest month (February) runs only 1.4% below trend and the dearest (August) 1.1% above: on $6.75 a pound that’s about 17¢. A sale at your store moves the price far more than the month does.

Ground beef: price by month

Typical price each month compared with that year’s trend, 2006–2025. The bar is the median year; the thin line spans the middle half of years.

−4%−3%−2%−1%trend+1%+2%+3%+4%JanJanuary: typically 1.4% below trend (half of years between −3% and +0.7%; 19 years)Feb−1.4%February: typically 1.4% below trend (half of years between −2.3% and +1.2%; 19 years)MarMarch: typically 0.9% below trend (half of years between −1.6% and +0.4%; 19 years)AprApril: typically 0.3% below trend (half of years between −1.6% and +1.1%; 17 years)MayMay: typically 0.5% below trend (half of years between −1.3% and +0.4%; 18 years)JunJune: typically 0.7% above trend (half of years between +0.3% and +1.4%; 18 years)JulJuly: typically 1% above trend (half of years between −0.9% and +1.6%; 18 years)Aug+1.1%August: typically 1.1% above trend (half of years between +0.1% and +2%; 18 years)SepSeptember: typically 0.5% above trend (half of years between +0% and +1.4%; 18 years)OctOctober: typically 0.1% below trend (half of years between −1.1% and +1%; 18 years)NovNovember: typically 0.3% below trend (half of years between −1.4% and +0.7%; 18 years)DecDecember: typically 1.1% below trend (half of years between −2.1% and +0.5%; 18 years)
cheaper than the year’s trend dearer middle half of years
See the numbers as a table
MonthTypical vs trendMiddle half of yearsYears
January−1.4%−3% to +0.7%19
February−1.4%−2.3% to +1.2%19
March−0.9%−1.6% to +0.4%19
April−0.3%−1.6% to +1.1%17
May−0.5%−1.3% to +0.4%18
June+0.7%+0.3% to +1.4%18
July+1%−0.9% to +1.6%18
August+1.1%+0.1% to +2%18
September+0.5%+0% to +1.4%18
October−0.1%−1.1% to +1%18
November−0.3%−1.4% to +0.7%18
December−1.1%−2.1% to +0.5%18

What that means at today’s prices

The U.S. average price of ground beef (per pound) was $6.75 in October 2026. At today’s price level, the typical February price is about $6.66 and the typical August price about $6.83.

Every year, its cheapest month

Each row is one year; the dot is the month ground beef was cheapest relative to that year’s trend. February was the single cheapest month in 1 of 17 years; the rest of the time it moved around, which is what having no real season looks like.

20242024: cheapest in May20232023: cheapest in April20222022: cheapest in January20212021: cheapest in May20202020: cheapest in March20192019: cheapest in December20182018: cheapest in February20172017: cheapest in April20162016: cheapest in May20152015: cheapest in May20142014: cheapest in January20112011: cheapest in January20102010: cheapest in December20092009: cheapest in November20082008: cheapest in July20072007: cheapest in December20062006: cheapest in JulyJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
See it as a table
YearCheapest month
2024May
2023April
2022January
2021May
2020March
2019December
2018February
2017April
2016May
2015May
2014January
2011January
2010December
2009November
2008July
2007December
2006July

More from the calendar

What else is cheap in February: what’s cheap in February. Meat: turkey (Dec), ham (Apr), bacon (Feb), pork chops (Jan), sirloin steak (Feb), steak (Dec), beef roast (Oct), chuck roast (Jan), chicken breast (Jan), whole chicken (Oct), chicken legs (Jan). All 39 foods: the grocery price calendar.

Questions

What month is ground beef cheapest?

February. Over 2006–2025 the U.S. average price of ground beef in February was typically 1.4% below that year's trend, and below it in 12 of 19 years. August is the dearest month (1.1% above).

What is the most expensive month for ground beef?

August, typically 1.1% above the year's trend price.

How much is ground beef right now?

The U.S. average was $6.75 a pound in October 2026 (BLS Average Price Data).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Price Data (U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted), the shelf prices BLS collects every month for the Consumer Price Index, through October 2026. Seasonal pattern and every number on this page computed by Online List Maker; how.

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