5 On Your Side: How to save money on still-rising beef prices through Labor Day

Related 5 on Your Side beef grocery prices Labor Day beef prices (© WRAL) By Consumer Watch, CNN If you plan to fire up the grill this Labor Day, meat prices may just burn a hole in your wallet. In the last year, beef prices have gone up roughly 9 percent according to the July Consumer Price Index report. Beef prices may just give you some sticker shock. The national average for a pound of ground beef right now is $6.89. That's about 27% more compared to three years ago, according to CPI data. So why are shoppers shelling out so much more to buy beef? "If you think about one of our ranchers who's trying to raise some cattle, it costs money to raise a calf. And you got to feed it all the time," says Stew Leonard Jr, owner of a regional grocery chain in the New York tri-state area. He says his meat suppliers are facing rising production costs. It's a problem cattle ranchers across the country are facing, with droughts also impacting the grass that cattle eat. "Now what they have to do is bring in corn and soy alfalfa to feed their calves," Leonard Jr. said. According to the Farm Bureau, America's beef cattle herd is at the lowest level in 50 years, so there's much less meat on the market. However, the demand for meat is still high, and that's driving up prices as well. Here's how to lower meat-buying costs "Look at the specials that are going on and take advantage of them and use your freezer," Leonard Jr. says. Boneless chicken breast is about $2 cheaper per pound than beef right now. "We're seeing customers switching a little bit from buying beef to buying chicken," Leonard said. Lastly, portion out exactly how much meat you need. And try not to impulse-buy; create a grocery list and stick to it. President Donald Trump is trying to help bring down prices. He signed an executive proclamation that would allow 300,000 metric tons of beef to enter the us duty-free for 90 days. The move is getting mixed reviews from U.S. farmers.