Beef and mutton prices rose in three waves within two months, becoming the price-increase leader

    Starting in late September, pork and egg prices began to fall noticeably, but beef and mutton prices remained stubbornly high. Compared with the previous two months, retail prices have risen by six or seven yuan, and beef has become a veritable new "price-increase leader" in the vegetable market.

    Beef is "soaring mightily," and residents are crying out that they "can't afford to eat it"

    On December 5, a reporter found at the Meiji Street farmers market in Shijiazhuang that the beef and mutton sales area looked unusually quiet, in sharp contrast to the "bustling" pork sales area on one side. The vendor said that beef is currently 28 yuan per jin and mutton 26 yuan per jin, and that "since around the Mid-Autumn Festival, beef has risen three times in a row. This year can truly be called 'soaring mightily.'"

    At the Huaihei Road farmers market, resident Ms. Fan hesitated for a long time in front of the fresh meat counter. "I originally wanted to make potato stewed beef, but a jin of beef has actually risen to 28 yuan! I might as well buy pork ribs." Ms. Fan looked helpless.

    The reporter's visits found that compared with farmers markets, beef and mutton prices in supermarkets are higher, with beef priced at 28.5 yuan to 30.5 yuan per jin, and rolled mutton at about 27 yuan/jin, up by six or seven yuan from last year.

    Meat stall sales halved, restaurants follow suit and raise prices

    Monitoring data from the vegetable wholesale market in Qiaoxi District, Shijiazhuang, show that starting in October this year, beef prices set off three waves of increases, rising by 2 yuan every half month. They are now at a minimum of 44 yuan/kg and a maximum of 46 yuan/kg, up by 6-7 yuan/kg from early October. Mutton prices followed closely behind, also rising from 50 yuan/kg to a minimum of 52 yuan/kg and a maximum of 54 yuan/kg.

    "When prices are high, naturally fewer people buy. Now it's good if we can sell 50 jin of beef a day!" said a vendor surnamed Xu at the Meiji Street farmers market. The vendor said that at this time in previous years, it was peak season for beef and mutton sales, but this year prices have risen too quickly, and residents' demand has fallen by nearly half accordingly. "We have a purchasing-price threshold. Even if we push the price down as much as possible, consumers still think it's expensive!"

    While dining at a restaurant on Zhongshan Road, the reporter found that on the menu, the price of potato stewed beef brisket had quietly been changed from "34 yuan" to "38 yuan." The owner said that if beef prices remain high, related dish prices are bound to "rise as the water rises and the boat floats." "Out of consideration for the restaurant's reputation, we try not to change dish prices, but this year beef prices are truly too expensive, so we had no choice," the owner said.

    Beef and mutton shortages are the main cause, and prices are unlikely to fall in the short term

    "Ultimately, price depends on supply and demand. The main reason beef and mutton prices are high this year is a shortage of beef and mutton," said Hui Fulai, a shop owner long engaged in beef and mutton wholesale. He said that beef cattle have a long growth cycle, and rising costs for grain, feed, labor, and transportation have all led to continuously increasing cattle-raising costs.

    Hui Fulai analyzed that New Year's Day and the Spring Festival are approaching soon, and demand for beef and mutton is bound to increase accordingly. In the short term, the possibility of prices falling is not great.