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A summer barbecue is costing more, and beef-heavy Texas has a direct stake in the squeeze. Wells Fargo’s 2026 barbecue report puts the average ten-person cookout at 161-dollars, with beef for burgers up 14-percent from last year.
Texas has the largest supply of the nation’s cattle, as the U.S. herd sits at a 75-year low. Less cattle means tighter beef supplies, and tighter supplies typically translate to higher prices at the grocery store.
