Beef Chemical Lean, Fresh 85%

Wholesale price (USDA AMS daily, Choice grade) · Updated
389.81¢/lbChoice
Day over Day
-3.0%
Week over Week
-2.4%
6-month
+2.1%
Volume · latest day
1,229,825 lbs
Beef Chemical Lean, Fresh 85% eased 3.0% in the latest USDA session. Down 2.4% week over week, 2.1% above where it was six months ago.

Last 6 months

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Recent prints

DateChoice (¢/lb)Select (¢/lb)Ch/Se Spread
2026-08-28389.81¢/lb389.81¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-27401.96¢/lb401.96¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-26393.95¢/lb393.95¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-25393.70¢/lb393.70¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-24384.58¢/lb384.58¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-20399.28¢/lb399.28¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-19384.02¢/lb384.02¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-18392.77¢/lb392.77¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-17388.91¢/lb388.91¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-14385.66¢/lb385.66¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-13395.03¢/lb395.03¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-12371.32¢/lb371.32¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-11390.21¢/lb390.21¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-10378.24¢/lb378.24¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
Source: USDA AMS National Daily Boxed Beef Cutout, Negotiated Sales. Ch/Se spread = Choice minus Select; wider spread signals stronger premium-grade demand.

Frequently asked

What is the current wholesale price of beef chemical lean, fresh 85%?

$3.90/lb as of 2026-08-28, Choice grade, from the USDA AMS National Daily Boxed Beef Cutout report. That's down 2.4% week over week.

Which way has chemical lean, fresh 85% been moving?

Roughly flat over the last six months. Within range, no clear directional trend.

Where does the chemical lean, fresh 85% price come from?

Wholesale beef chemical lean, fresh 85% is priced FOB plant in cents per pound and reported daily by USDA AMS as part of the National Daily Boxed Beef Cutout, Negotiated Sales (LM_XB403) report. Prices reflect weighted-average negotiated trades for delivery within 0-21 days.

Why do grind and trim prices move differently from steak cuts?

They price off the lean trim ladder, not the middle meats. Lean supply comes mostly from cow slaughter and imported trim, so the drivers are herd-cycle culling and import flows rather than steak demand. The grind and trim explainers on the learn page walk the ladder.

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Related chemical lean cuts

Prices reflect USDA AMS National Daily Boxed Beef Cutout and Boxed Beef Cuts, Negotiated Sales (LM_XB403), weighted-average wholesale FOB plant. Updated every business day after the afternoon report drop.