Beef Ground Beef 81%

Wholesale price (USDA AMS daily, Choice grade) · Updated
352.24¢/lbChoice
Day over Day
+0.4%
Week over Week
-6.3%
6-month
-6.9%
Volume · latest day
135,671 lbs
Beef Ground Beef 81% is down 6.3% on the week. 6.9% below where it was six months ago.

Last 6 months

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Recent prints

DateChoice (¢/lb)Select (¢/lb)Ch/Se Spread
2026-08-28352.24¢/lb352.24¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-27350.85¢/lb350.85¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-26362.59¢/lb362.59¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-25374.91¢/lb374.91¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-24371.44¢/lb371.44¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-21376.13¢/lb376.13¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-20361.82¢/lb361.82¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-19364.73¢/lb364.73¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-18367.73¢/lb367.73¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-17364.59¢/lb364.59¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-14345.17¢/lb345.17¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-13354.12¢/lb354.12¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-12345.37¢/lb345.37¢/lb+0.00¢/lb
2026-08-11341.89¢/lb341.89¢/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 ground beef 81%?

$3.52/lb as of 2026-08-28, Choice grade, from the USDA AMS National Daily Boxed Beef Cutout report. That's down 6.3% week over week.

Which way has ground beef 81% been moving?

Down 6.9% over the last six months. Offer side has been in control.

Where does the ground beef 81% price come from?

Wholesale beef ground beef 81% 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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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.