Beef, coffee, tomatoes: America’s CEOs call out where food prices are rising


US consumers continue to experience sticky inflation across everything from beef and coffee to even pineapples, and America’s CEOs are calling out how supply chain constraints are driving higher prices.

In April, food prices in the US increased 0.5% from the previous month and 3.2% year over year, according to the government’s Consumer Price Index report, as overall price inflation marked its largest annual increase in three years. Food at home rose 2.9% on an annual basis, while food away from home increased 3.6%.

Here are some of the food items with substantial price increases.

High beef prices hit fast food chains

According to CPI data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the price of uncooked ground beef was up around 15% in April compared to last year as beef prices reached a record $6.90 per pound.

“There’s no doubt there continues to be pressure on a commodity like beef,” McDonald’s (MCD) CFO Ian Borden told Yahoo Finance. He said the company can work with its supply partners to “navigate through pressure points.”

Beef makes up about 40% of McDonald’s overall mix, while chicken is only in the high teens. McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said that when beef prices are elevated, “chicken becomes a much more attractive value opportunity.”

Both Chipotle (CMG) and Restaurant Brand International (QSR), the parent company behind Burger King, weighed in on the matter too, each saying they expect a modest mid-single-digit uptick in beef inflation this year.

“We’re seeing that elevated level of beef costs kind of persist a little bit,” Restaurant Brands International CFO Sami Siddiqui said. “This is natural. It’s part of a herd rebuilding cycle that occurs in our industry every so often.”

The company didn’t specify whether it raised prices for customers but did say the chain saw high-single-digit food cost increases in its latest quarter, driven by beef, which makes up a 25% of its overall basket.

For Chipotle (CMG), food, beverage, and packaging costs in the first quarter of 2026 ticked up to 29.6% of total revenue from 29.2% last year, which was also driven by beef costs. The company raised prices by roughly 1%.

Shake Shack (SHAK) executives said they expect beef inflation to remain in the high single digits. In the first quarter, the burger chain decided to raise prices by 3% compared to approximately 5% price hikes last year.

Close-up of McDonald's Double Quarter Pounder burger, Lafayette, California, May 5, 2026. (Photo by Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
Close-up of McDonald’s Double Quarter Pounder burger, Lafayette, California, May 5, 2026. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images) · Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images

Coffee prices jump with signs of relief ahead

Coffee prices also jumped 18.5% from last year and rose 2% from the previous month, according to the latest Consumer Price Index data.





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