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Money Matters: Soaring price of brisket

828 views · Published 28 January 2015 · 2:00 · Indexed 25 September 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2015 · News & Politics

CINCINNATI (Paula Toti) -- It's hard not to notice the rising prices of beef when you roll your cart through the grocery store.

It's particularly painful if you're shopping for brisket.

Prices have soared and the best cuts are getting tough to find.

The big price increases are hitting both shoppers and restaurant owners hard and the worst part is that things may not get any better any time soon.

With brisket, the meat commonly used for Bar-B-Que (or BBQ), prices have increased 60 percent in just the last year from around $2.21 per pound to nearly $3.52

Many restaurants and meat markets have raised prices of brisket at least once, and the fear is they may have to do it again.

It's tough for businesses because Texas style BBQ is more popular than ever and brisket is the gold standard when it comes to smoked meat.

Wow! How are we going to make it? said restaurant owner Belinda Wells. The choices we have to make because to maintain the quality you are going to have to raise your price or you go out of business.

In the brisket market, it is the perfect storm going the wrong way, said Jeff Savell. There are fewer briskets today than in the past but there is a greater demand for briskets.

The cattle shortage is taking its toll, said butcher Joe Doria. This is going to be a long term deal it's not a short term.

There are fewer briskets because of drought in states like Texas and California.

Ranchers have thinned their herds in those states to the lowest levels in 60 years.

That comes at the same time as the upturn in the economy.

The result is were being forced to decide whether beef is worth the price at restaurants or grocery stores and restaurant owners struggle to balance a slice in profits with keeping their customers.

It's not just BBQ joints that are putting pressure on prices.

Fast food chains like Arby's have gotten on the brisket bandwagon.

Officials estimate Arby's consumes about 300,000 pounds of brisket a week. That's nearly five percent of the country's stock.

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Money Matters: Soaring price of brisket

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