Grocery store sticker shock: Sizzling meat prices in San Diego stores

If you're planning on firing up the grill for this year's Super Bowl, you need to start saving. Meat prices are up 20% right now and as CBS 8 found out, there are a lot of reasons; from the supply chain to the big four meat-packing plants and all the costs that go into raising cattle and packing the meat.

The high prices are not just being felt at grocery stores but butcher shops too.

“I have customers who walk in the door and say '$80 for a pound of prime filet that's crazy' and I say, 'I’m sorry that is what I have to pay,'” said Pam Schwartz, Ranch 45.

The Solana Beach butcher shop and restaurant sells high-end cuts of meat from family-owned Brandt Beef in Brawley.

“This is a flat iron steak that I used to sell for $12 and now I sell for $24,” said Schwartz.

At Ranch 45 they say nothing goes to waste. They use trim in the beef stew, and are introducing cuts of meat you wouldn’t typically find in grocery stores. They are using cuts of meat in different ways such as finger meat and chuck roll and smoking it to create a pulled beef. They don’t even toss the fat.

“We are rendering down our fat and making soap and candles,” said Schwartz.

So why is the price of beef up 20%?

“I've never seen the price of beef this high,” said Jim Alford.

Jim is CBS 8 reporter Abbie Alford's father but also a cattleman in Red Bluff, California, a retired commodity broker and the man who taught Abbie how to make a steak.

[chaos]

love how she's pretending to cook a raw steak at 2:25 when the grill isn't even on 😂

[akui]

the major beef packers are reporting record profits, while the cattle ranchers and the end consumers are suffering.
cattle ranchers are actually getting less per pound of beef.

[tpp]

I use to get a ribeye for $10-$12 bucks for a big steak, now it’s $45 for a ribeye. 🤦‍♂️

[yellowbird]

I bought two chuck steaks today for $5.99 lb. for a little over $9. I had some for dinner, will make a few sandwiches, and the broth left over will be used either in soup or over potatoes. That's not bad, as I rarely eat beef. It was a real treat. I watch prices carefully, shop carefully, and usually eat more chicken or turkey. How we eat our food impacts how much we pay for it. Moderation, smaller servings and creative recipes can keep beef in the budget occasionally.

[chrissyellem]

Who the heck goes to VONS? I got a roast for $11 at Staters today.

[thescrolls]

It’s almost like no one is running the country.

[joeyflores]

Here in Mexico a 400g ribeye (shy of 1lb) cost about $8 US but the lower quality is definitely noticeable. Not so much in taste but the way its cut, finished, and presented. Sometimes I scratch my head and wonder if they're using a butter knife?

[ivang]

They always dance around the real reason for inflation, the expansion of m2 (printing of money). Guess they don't want a panic

[GulfstreamSP]

Let’s go Brandon, Californias are upset at the cost but they voted for this potato head that’s in the White House 🤯🤯 what were you expecting With groceries and gas prices

[dadoofusbeats]

Leta Go Brandon! Trump predicted this years ago if a liberal gets into office

[Babette]

Prices for food have gotten outta hand. This is beyond ridiculous. Grilling meat will have to be on hold for a bit

[SNooPyTrKSTaR]

Might help if she turned the grill on…

[xwrtk]

My cousin lives in San Diego and doesn’t even pay that much for meat. Even Whole Foods has a lot of meat cheaper than what was shown on the video and they are known to be expensive. He was able to get chicken leg quarters for 99cents a lb. Also, pork and a random cut of steak for cheap.

[jaybullet]

It’s no lie prices have varied here in my town my sister paid eighty dollars for two small tri tips that I’m used to paying no more than thirty five dollars for

[micheleboyle]

I’m a vegetarian so meat prices don’t worry me but prices for everything is going up! But not as high as meat products.

[blakeh]

We cut our red meat pruchased at stores by 90%..lucky to have a family rancher to give us about 25 lbs worth of black angus and also bought 15 lbs of bison, that is really good and better for you. Along with chicken and fish we caught and buy..

[touiklau]

I gave up meat 5 years ago so it cheap for me.5 buck a day get me 3 meal .😁

[christophermyers]

I prefer grilled "VEGAN "...
they might "not want" to be cooked, but "oh, are they tender and juicy"!
🤣😂🤣

[francescoavila]

Who cares? We can live much healthier without beef in our diets.

[davegreen]

I think that ONE of the greatest "SURPRISES' will come to rhose "UNPREPARED", .... THE BIGGEST SURPRISE will come to the unfaithful..abd all YOU need to do to reach THIS RANK is to DOUBT YOURSELF and the GOD WHO MADE YOU😎