Meat prices varied widely by animal, cut, and point in the supply chain in March 2026. USDA Economic Research Service figures put boneless sirloin steak at $14.124 per pound, while fresh whole chicken was $2.033 per pound and all other pork in the reported category was $3.628 per pound.
Contents
- Beef prices by cut
- Ground beef and roast prices
- Pork prices
- Chicken and broiler prices
- Meat price comparison
- Farm-to-retail spreads
Beef prices by cut
The March 2026 USDA ERS retail-price figures show a clear difference between broad beef categories and individual premium cuts. All uncooked beef steaks averaged $12.732 per pound. The reported all uncooked beef roasts category was $8.857 per pound, and all uncooked other beef not veal was $7.675 per pound.
Among named cuts, sirloin steak, USDA Choice boneless, was the highest listed beef price at $14.124 per pound. Round steak, USDA Choice, was $9.610 per pound. Chuck roast, USDA Choice boneless, was $8.833 per pound, while round roast, USDA Choice boneless, was $8.477 per pound. Beef for stew, boneless, was $8.413 per pound.
The USDA ERS Meat Price Spreads summary reports Choice beef retail value at 1008.5 cents per pound, equivalent to $10.085 per pound, and all-fresh beef retail value at 954.5 cents per pound, or $9.545 per pound. These are summary retail-value measures, while the cut-specific figures above describe particular products and grades.
Ground beef and roast prices
Ground beef prices also differed by the category measured. In March 2026, ground chuck was $6.684 per pound, and ground beef was $6.701 per pound. All uncooked ground beef was $6.863 per pound. Lean and extra lean ground beef was substantially higher at $8.200 per pound.
The difference between the reported ground-beef categories is useful when planning meals. The $6.684 ground-chuck figure and $6.701 ground-beef figure were close, while the all-uncooked-ground-beef measure was $6.863. Lean and extra lean ground beef stood at $8.200, a higher price point than each of those broader or standard ground categories.
The Meat Price Spreads summary lists ground beef retail value at 670.1 cents per pound, or $6.701 per pound. That matches the retail ground-beef figure reported in the USDA ERS retail-price series after converting cents to dollars. The matching value describes the same March 2026 price level in a different unit format, rather than an additional independent observation.
For roast-oriented cooking, chuck roast at $8.833 per pound was $0.356 more per pound than round roast at $8.477. Beef for stew at $8.413 was $0.064 below the round-roast figure. These comparisons use the stated March 2026 prices and do not describe earlier or later trends.
Pork prices
Pork prices in March 2026 were lower than the listed beef-steak prices. Pork chops, center cut and bone in, were $4.571 per pound. Boneless pork chops were $4.484 per pound, and all pork chops were $4.181 per pound. The USDA ERS Meat Price Spreads summary gives boneless pork chops a retail value of 448.4 cents per pound, or $4.484.
Bacon, sliced, was $6.801 per pound. The corresponding Meat Price Spreads summary value was 680.1 cents per pound, or $6.801. Ham, boneless and not canned, was $5.479 per pound, while all ham not canned or sliced was $4.439 per pound. The summary reports boneless, not-canned ham at 547.9 cents per pound, also $5.479.
The broad all-other-pork category, excluding canned and sliced products, was $3.628 per pound. The Meat Price Spreads summary reports pork retail value at 487.1 cents per pound, or $4.871. Because these are different labels and measures, the broad pork figure should not be treated as a replacement for the all-other-pork retail price.
Pork price snapshot
| Pork product or category | March 2026 price |
|---|---|
| Bacon, sliced | $6.801/lb |
| Ham, boneless, not canned | $5.479/lb |
| Pork chops, center cut, bone in | $4.571/lb |
| Pork chops, boneless | $4.484/lb |
| All pork chops | $4.181/lb |
| All other pork, excluding canned and sliced | $3.628/lb |
This grouping shows a $3.173 per-pound gap between the highest and lowest listed pork categories: sliced bacon at $6.801 and all other pork excluding canned and sliced at $3.628. The table compares reported prices only; it does not adjust for package size, preparation, or cooking yield.
Chicken and broiler prices
Chicken was the lowest-priced meat group among the selected retail items. Fresh whole chicken was $2.033 per pound in March 2026. Chicken legs, bone-in, were $1.739 per pound. Boneless chicken breast was $4.172 per pound.
The spread between the listed chicken products was $2.433 per pound from bone-in legs at $1.739 to boneless breast at $4.172. Fresh whole chicken was $0.294 per pound above legs and $2.139 below boneless breast. These differences illustrate why a meat budget can change depending on whether a shopper chooses a whole bird, bone-in pieces, or a boneless cut.
The USDA ERS Meat Price Spreads summary reports retail broiler composite value at 240.6 cents per pound, equivalent to $2.406. Its product-specific values were 203.3 cents per pound for fresh whole chicken, or $2.033; 173.9 cents for bone-in legs, or $1.739; and 417.2 cents for boneless breast, or $4.172.
The retail broiler composite was 240.6 cents per pound, while the wholesale broiler composite was 84.7 cents per pound. The reported wholesale-retail broiler spread was 155.9 cents per pound. These three figures describe the broiler market at different stages and should not be read as three retail prices for the same package.
Meat price comparison
The selected March 2026 products can be compared directly when their units are the same. The highest listed meat price was boneless sirloin steak at $14.124 per pound. The lowest was bone-in chicken legs at $1.739 per pound. That is an $12.385 per-pound difference.
| Product | Price per pound | Difference from lowest listed meat |
|---|---|---|
| Sirloin steak, USDA Choice boneless | $14.124 | $12.385 |
| All uncooked beef steaks | $12.732 | $10.993 |
| Lean and extra lean ground beef | $8.200 | $6.461 |
| Bacon, sliced | $6.801 | $5.062 |
| Boneless pork chops | $4.484 | $2.745 |
| Boneless chicken breast | $4.172 | $2.433 |
| Fresh whole chicken | $2.033 | $0.294 |
| Chicken legs, bone-in | $1.739 | $0.000 |
This comparison is a price snapshot for March 2026, not a forecast. It also does not account for edible yield, trimming, bones, cooking loss, package promotions, or differences in serving size. A lower shelf price does not necessarily mean a lower cost per cooked serving.
Related grocery prices provide context for meal planning. Grade A large eggs were $2.348 per dozen at retail and $1.554 per dozen wholesale, producing a reported retail-minus-wholesale figure of $0.794 per dozen. Fresh whole fortified milk was $4.067 per gallon, and American processed cheese was $4.783 per pound.
Farm-to-retail spreads
USDA ERS Meat Price Spreads summary figures separate parts of the beef and pork price chain. For beef in March 2026, the farm-to-wholesale spread was 54.6 cents per pound and the wholesale-to-retail spread was 418.8 cents per pound. Farmers’ share of the retail beef dollar was 53.1 percent.
For pork, the farm-to-wholesale spread was 66.9 cents per pound and the wholesale-to-retail spread was 303.9 cents per pound. Farmers’ share of the retail pork dollar was 23.9 percent. The beef and pork measures are not interchangeable: each refers to its own commodity and supply-chain calculation.
The spread figures help explain why a retail price is not a direct payment to a farm. Beef had a reported 54.6-cent farm-to-wholesale spread and 418.8-cent wholesale-to-retail spread, while pork had a 66.9-cent farm-to-wholesale spread and 303.9-cent wholesale-to-retail spread. The associated farmers’ shares were 53.1 percent for beef and 23.9 percent for pork.
For cooks comparing shopping options, the practical takeaway is that price depends heavily on the product definition. In this March 2026 snapshot, boneless sirloin steak cost more per pound than ground beef, pork chops, or chicken; lean and extra lean ground beef cost more than standard ground-beef categories; and bone-in chicken legs were cheaper than boneless breast. The USDA ERS figures provide the measurement period and geography for these comparisons: the reported retail series covers the United States, with prices stated in dollars or cents per pound unless a dozen or gallon is specified.