A couple of years ago I could go to my local supermarket in rural Oklahoma and buy Tri-Tip roast for somewhere between $4.99 and $7.99 a pound. Not long after that, it seemed like tri-tip became nationally popular (no thanks to my luster, or lack thereof). Prices kind of drifted up, and last week I noticed I could find bone-in Choice ribeye for $17.99 and tri-tip for $14.99. Is this everywhere?
Tri-Tip prices
- Thread starter Bill T
- Start date
Randy
TVWBB Pro
The same is true in Southwest Washington State. The price of beef is ridiculous and the selection has gotten worse in my opinion. Even ground beef the 80/20 kind is almost too expensive. We have switched mostly to pork and chicken. Both are not cheap but they are less expensive than beef
Timothy Ray
New member
Tri-tip is $9.99/lb. here in SE PA.
DanHoo
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
I recall choice tri tip at costco was about $11.99 lb a week or so ago.
I read a number of factors were involved.
goog AI listed this:
In 2025, US beef prices have reached record highs due to a combination of factors including a shrinking cattle herd, high feed costs, and increased demand. This has resulted in an 8% price increase since the beginning of the year, with ground beef prices also experiencing a significant rise.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
I read a number of factors were involved.
goog AI listed this:
In 2025, US beef prices have reached record highs due to a combination of factors including a shrinking cattle herd, high feed costs, and increased demand. This has resulted in an 8% price increase since the beginning of the year, with ground beef prices also experiencing a significant rise.
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
- Shrinking US Herd:
The US cattle herd is at its lowest level since the 1950s, leading to a reduced supply of beef.
- High Feed Costs:
Increased costs for feeding cattle contribute to higher production expenses, which are passed on to consumers.
- Strong Demand:
Despite the higher prices, demand for beef remains strong, further exacerbating the supply and price imbalance.
- Import Restrictions:
USDA import restrictions on cattle from Mexico due to a screwworm outbreak have further limited the beef supply.
I was listening to a podcast the other day in which they mentioned that the one protein that Americans are not eating much is chicken drumsticks. People want every part of the chicken except the drumsticks. I just checked Walmart.com and they've got fresh for $1.27/lb and frozen for $1.17/lb. So eat up America! 
Mark Foreman
TVWBB Wizard
At our house, we eat lots of drumsticks with many time using them instead of chicken wings. Price is cool too.I was listening to a podcast the other day in which they mentioned that the one protein that Americans are not eating much is chicken drumsticks. People want every part of the chicken except the drumsticks. I just checked Walmart.com and they've got fresh for $1.27/lb and frozen for $1.17/lb. So eat up America!
Additionally, our beef consumption (except ground) has gone to near zero due to the cost. I control that cost by grinding my own ground chuck when it’s on sale.
AndyK
TVWBB Wizard
I forgot the exact price per pound but there is a single tri tip at the local Walmart in Wa right now with a $44 price tag on it.
It’s a nice big one and all that but $44 for one tri tip ?
I was so shocked I even showed my wife.
On the other hand they did have prime brisket for under $5 that looked pretty good especially sitting next to a $44 tri tip.
It’s a nice big one and all that but $44 for one tri tip ?
I was so shocked I even showed my wife.
On the other hand they did have prime brisket for under $5 that looked pretty good especially sitting next to a $44 tri tip.
DanHoo
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
That's a pretty good price. My preference is chicken thighs over drumsticks and both are roughly 70% meat, but thighs are $1.67 lb or 31% more for thighs. Still much, much less than beef.
timothy
TVWBB 1-Star Olympian
Leg quarters, best of both worlds and the price is cheap.
Tyson Fresh Chicken Leg Quarters, 10 lb - Walmart.com
Buy Tyson Fresh Chicken Leg Quarters, 10 lb at Walmart.com
www.walmart.com
Wilmer Cogburn
TVWBB Super Fan
I watched a boob tube video on deboning leg quarters. Was so easy! Was great on having the thigh and leg meat all in one piece without bones or tendon.Leg quarters, best of both worlds and the price is cheap.
Tyson Fresh Chicken Leg Quarters, 10 lb - Walmart.com
Buy Tyson Fresh Chicken Leg Quarters, 10 lb at Walmart.comwww.walmart.com
These are often yellow tag near me and are now high on the buy list.
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Ed P
TVWBB Honor Circle
And there is this, from Google:
"In 2024, the U.S. imported approximately 1.99 million tonnes (or 4.38 billion pounds) of beef. This made the U.S. the second-largest beef importer globally."
That's a lot of beef, but according to the current health guidelines, we should be consuming red meat no more often than 3 times per week, and a total weekly consumption of 12-18 ounces...so not only are we eating more healthy these days, but saving money to boot!
EDIT: Now this is interesting!
"In the U.S., beef consumption is significant, with Americans consuming around 57-67 pounds per person annually. While this is high compared to other countries, it's also worth noting that a relatively small percentage of the population (12%) consumes a large portion (50%) of the total beef supply, according to the New York Post. In 2022, the total beef disappearance in the U.S. was 28.2 billion pounds, reports the USDA. "
12% of the population, mostly men, consumes half of the total beef supply!
"In 2024, the U.S. imported approximately 1.99 million tonnes (or 4.38 billion pounds) of beef. This made the U.S. the second-largest beef importer globally."
That's a lot of beef, but according to the current health guidelines, we should be consuming red meat no more often than 3 times per week, and a total weekly consumption of 12-18 ounces...so not only are we eating more healthy these days, but saving money to boot!
EDIT: Now this is interesting!
"In the U.S., beef consumption is significant, with Americans consuming around 57-67 pounds per person annually. While this is high compared to other countries, it's also worth noting that a relatively small percentage of the population (12%) consumes a large portion (50%) of the total beef supply, according to the New York Post. In 2022, the total beef disappearance in the U.S. was 28.2 billion pounds, reports the USDA. "
12% of the population, mostly men, consumes half of the total beef supply!
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John Saldana
TVWBB Fan
Love them Ribeye's 
There's some interesting info about at least part of US beef imports. Our beef producers have optimized cattle for juicy grain finished steaks, and the leftover trim that goes into ground beef ends up being too fatty. So in order to statisfy demand for ground beef, not only do we need to import more beef overall but we need to import lean beef from Brazil, Australia, etc. to mix into our fatty trim to achieve the 75-80% mix that consumers desire.
DuaneMac
TVWBB All-Star
Not many supermarkets have it here in Eastern PA. I get mine at a local Wild Fork Foods, $8.98 for choice and $10.98 for prime. Pretty good for this area. I was in a Wegman’s (high end supermarket chain from Rochester NY) that recently opened near me, they want $21.99/ lb for choice. I don’t think so!
Steve Hoch
TVWBB Olympian
The drumsticks and thighs are my favorite parts of the chicken besides wings. I buy both quite often to feed the family and both are pretty versatile as far as ways to use them.I was listening to a podcast the other day in which they mentioned that the one protein that Americans are not eating much is chicken drumsticks. People want every part of the chicken except the drumsticks. I just checked Walmart.com and they've got fresh for $1.27/lb and frozen for $1.17/lb. So eat up America!