Beef prices in the United States have climbed to record levels, intensifying overall food-inflation pressures even as broader grocery costs edged lower last month. Government data show beef and veal prices were 11.3% higher in July than a year earlier, while ground beef rose 11.5%. The surge stems from a prolonged drought that has shrunk cattle herds and from the 145% U.S. tariff on Chinese goods, which has disrupted international feed and meat trade flows. Futures contracts for Live Cattle have also set fresh highs this week, signaling that wholesale and retail prices are likely to remain elevated in the near term. Despite sticker shock, consumption has held steady in the world’s largest beef market, suggesting demand resilience even as household budgets tighten. Retailers and restaurants face difficult choices between absorbing costs or passing them on, keeping food inflation firmly in the spotlight for policymakers and consumers alike.