[jyl]

Beef is expensive now. US herds were cut hard and it takes years to build them up again. I’m not sure that the reasons for cutting the herds in the first place have gone away. Think of who works in slaughterhouses and how that might be a factor. There are only four large meatpackers in the country, they have increasing pricing power. The grocery store industry is consolidating rapidly to just a few huge players, ditto. Think about where we get imported beef from and what’s going on there. The reasons why we’re seeing these prices should be pretty obvious.

That said, at some point consumer demand for beef will roll over and prices may moderate, in the meantime look for sales. It is perishable My grocery store had prime rib regularly $18.99 but on sale for $6.99, I don’t buy much prime rib anymore but picked some up just because.

In fact, I pretty much don’t buy beef unless it is on sale. Heck I can buy fresh salmon for less most times.

Incidentally, I have been working on making stew without meat and have gotten to the point where it doesn’t need meat for flavor or visuals at all. Actually I have to dial back the intensity of flavor, the family is saying it is too strong/concentrated. Meat would still add a bit to texture, but I am working with freezing/thawing tofu to deal with that.

I like meat but increasingly don’t feel the need to eat as much of it.