Beef costs more than ever, but Canadians won’t let that ruin barbecue season

By Colin Butler – CBC News

As Canadians fire up their grills for the August long weekend, one of the nation’s most cherished summer traditions is now facing a costly twist: beef prices have surged 25 per cent over the past year, far outpacing the rate of inflation and putting the price of summer burgers and steaks into uncharted territory.

The price of ground beef hit $14.67 per kilogram in May of 2025, according to the latest data from Statistics Canada — a 25 per cent increase over the $11.72 recorded a year earlier and well above the country’s current inflation rate of 1.7 per cent.