[ben parrish]

Yep, beef is up and will continue through at least memorial day. This happens yearly but the prices this year are higher than normal. We had a hard winter so farmers were forced to reduce the number of cattle they fed. Couple that with reduced carcas weight and increased demand from China and we get higher prices. Same thing happened with pork this spring. Bacon went through the roof.
Actually, all protiens are up..Chicken and dairy are also crazy.
Try to buy shrimp right now. The gulf spill has caused a panic situation in the market and even the Asian, farm raised shrimp are through the roof if available at all.
Restaurants are having to raise prices and consumers are feeling the squeeze. It is tough for restaurants to make it these days and you need to be wary of places that are offering really cheap deals..like the burger joints. That crap they pass off as hamburger is total crap...old dairy cattle loaded with fat and salt.