When is steak cheapest?

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

Barely moves

Steak barely has a season: buy it when you need it.

The cheapest month (December) runs only 1.6% below trend and the dearest (July) 1.2% above: on $12.85 a pound that’s about 35¢. A sale at your store moves the price far more than the month does.

Steak: 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% below trend (half of years between −3% and −0.4%; 20 years)FebFebruary: typically 1.5% below trend (half of years between −2.2% and −1%; 20 years)MarMarch: typically 0.8% below trend (half of years between −1.7% and −0.1%; 20 years)AprApril: typically 0.3% above trend (half of years between −1.1% and +1.9%; 19 years)MayMay: typically 0.5% above trend (half of years between +0.3% and +1.9%; 19 years)JunJune: typically 1.1% above trend (half of years between +0.1% and +2.2%; 19 years)Jul+1.2%July: typically 1.2% above trend (half of years between −0% and +2.3%; 19 years)AugAugust: typically 0.7% above trend (half of years between −0.4% and +1.4%; 19 years)SepSeptember: typically 0.5% above trend (half of years between −0.5% and +1.4%; 19 years)OctOctober: typically 0.3% below trend (half of years between −0.9% and +0.8%; 19 years)NovNovember: typically 0.8% below trend (half of years between −1.6% and +0.2%; 19 years)Dec−1.6%December: typically 1.6% below trend (half of years between −2.6% and −0.3%; 19 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%−3% to −0.4%20
February−1.5%−2.2% to −1%20
March−0.8%−1.7% to −0.1%20
April+0.3%−1.1% to +1.9%19
May+0.5%+0.3% to +1.9%19
June+1.1%+0.1% to +2.2%19
July+1.2%−0% to +2.3%19
August+0.7%−0.4% to +1.4%19
September+0.5%−0.5% to +1.4%19
October−0.3%−0.9% to +0.8%19
November−0.8%−1.6% to +0.2%19
December−1.6%−2.6% to −0.3%19

What that means at today’s prices

The U.S. average price of steak (per pound) was $12.85 in October 2026. At today’s price level, the typical December price is about $12.68 and the typical July price about $13.03.

Every year, its cheapest month

Each row is one year; the dot is the month steak was cheapest relative to that year’s trend. December was the single cheapest month in 5 of 19 years; the rest of the time it moved around, which is what having no real season looks like.

20242024: cheapest in December20232023: cheapest in January20222022: cheapest in December20212021: cheapest in March20202020: cheapest in March20192019: cheapest in November20182018: cheapest in February20172017: cheapest in January20162016: cheapest in January20152015: cheapest in December20142014: cheapest in January20132013: cheapest in December20122012: cheapest in February20112011: cheapest in July20102010: cheapest in February20092009: cheapest in January20082008: cheapest in April20072007: cheapest in January20062006: cheapest in DecemberJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
See it as a table
YearCheapest month
2024December
2023January
2022December
2021March
2020March
2019November
2018February
2017January
2016January
2015December
2014January
2013December
2012February
2011July
2010February
2009January
2008April
2007January
2006December

More from the calendar

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

Questions

What month is steak cheapest?

December. Over 2006–2025 the U.S. average price of steak in December was typically 1.6% below that year's trend, and below it in 16 of 19 years. July is the dearest month (1.2% above).

What is the most expensive month for steak?

July, typically 1.2% above the year's trend price.

How much is steak right now?

The U.S. average was $12.85 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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