Record Beef Prices Hit Local BBQ Business

If your last burger seemed a little pricier than you remembered, you're not imagining it. Beef prices have climbed to record highs, and a local restaurant owner says he's feeling every bit of it.

At the Fireside Lounge in Palm Springs, Big Earl's BBQ has built a loyal following out of a small kitchen tucked in the back of the bar. Customers come for a cold drink, a game of pool, and barbecue that keeps them coming back. But behind the smoker, Big Earl is watching his costs climb week after week.

According to the USDA, the average retail price of beef hit a record $9.64 per pound in April, about 13% higher than a year ago. Economists say the increase is being driven by inflation and a historic shortage of cattle, and there's little sign it will ease soon.

Big Earl says the increases have been hitting hard and fast, with prices going "up and up" and no relief in sight. So far, he's been absorbing the difference rather than passing it on to customers, cutting costs where he can in places that won't be noticed. "You have to cut costs where you can, where it's felt the least," he said.

Customers say they're already adjusting too. Some say they might "think twice before ordering" as prices rise. For now, Big Earl is holding the line, though he acknowledges that if beef prices keep climbing, he may have no choice but to raise his own.