Immigration and customs enforcement will take place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
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As consumers face rising beef prices, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is working with the Justice Department to investigate the nation’s largest meat processors.
Paxton announced in a May 15 news release that it would launch an “antitrust investigation to protect the nation’s beef supply chain.” Paxton said the beef processing industry is highly concentrated, with four companies – JBS SA, Tyson Fresh Meats, Cargill and National Beef Packing Company – controlling more than 85% of the domestic beef processing market.
“This level of consolidation has given these companies significant market power with both cattle producers and consumers,” the news release states. “According to reports, these companies may have used their advantage to lower prices paid to ranchers while simultaneously raising beef prices for consumers. These four companies are making huge profits at the expense of Texas ranchers and consumers nationwide.”
Beef prices are projected to rise 12.1% in March 2026 from March 2025, and an additional 6.3% in 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“Texans deserve a fair price for their beef, and our state’s ranchers deserve fair compensation for their hard work,” Paxton said in the release. “When major meat processors manipulate markets to pay ranchers lower wages and families pay higher prices at grocery stores, we will hold them accountable. My office will aggressively investigate antitrust violations to protect fair competition, ranchers, and Texas consumers.”
Paxton encourages industry participants with concerns about potential antitrust violations, including price fixing and market manipulation, to contact the Attorney General’s Antitrust Division with relevant information at antitrust@oag.texas.gov, according to a news release.
beef price per pound
The average price per pound of ground beef in the United States was $6.899 in April 2026, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis.
Prices are up more than $1 from a year ago, with the average price of a pound of ground beef being $5.801 in April 2025.
Natassia Paloma can be reached at npaloma@gannett.com, @NatassiaPaloma at x. natassia_paloma on Instagram and Natassia Paloma Thompson on Facebook.
