U.S. Meat Department Sales Rose in September

Total meat department dollar sales climbed 1.5 percent in September 2026, driven by growth in fresh meat categories.

Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Inflation

Isometric editorial illustration of a raw beef cut on a tray, representing industry sales performance data. — Total U.S. meat department sales increased 1.5% in September 2026, driven by fresh meat growth despite rising turkey prices. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Are you changing your grocery shopping habits due to rising food prices?

In the United States, total meat department dollar sales increased 1.5% and volume sales grew 1.0% in September 2026. The performance was largely supported by a 2.5% dollar sales gain and a 1.6% pound sales increase within the fresh meat sector.

Why it matters

The September sales growth was fueled by a combination of inflationary pressure and consistent demand-driven growth. However, fresh turkey prices rose 11.8% during the month, which industry analysts attribute to renewed cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

September fresh meat sales reached $6.3 billion, while ground beef sales hit $1.5 billion, marking a 4.2% dollar increase for the month. Meanwhile, lamb inflation reached 9.4% and processed meat pound sales fell 0.4% compared to September 2025.

The details

Fresh meat performance helped lift total department figures, as beef pound sales grew 7.3% during the holiday week in September. Despite the overall growth, total meat pound sales grew in three of the four weeks of the month, though processed meat sales struggled to keep pace with the prior year.

September 2025 served as the baseline for processed meat pound sales comparisons.
September 2026 saw total meat department dollar sales increase by 1.5%.
September 27, 2026 marked the conclusion of the 4-week September reporting period and the 13-week Q3 period.

Macro View

This performance mirrors historical patterns where external supply shocks, specifically avian influenza, trigger sharp price volatility in poultry segments. The data follows the recurring trend of balancing inflationary pricing with consumer volume sensitivity across the broader U.S. grocery landscape.

Shoppers may notice higher costs at the meat counter due to specific poultry inflation, while total holiday spending is projected to reach $890 per person. Consumers looking to manage their budgets are increasingly moving toward digital storefronts, with 55% of holiday shopping expected to occur online.

The takeaway

Consumers are balancing rising costs for specific items like turkey and lamb with stable overall meat consumption. To optimize grocery spending, shoppers should monitor seasonal trends and leverage online price comparisons ahead of major holidays.