Price of this summer grilling staple remains at record high as beef lovers adapt

Beef prices in the U.S. continue to hit record highs, yet demand for the popular summer grilling staple remains strong — prompting shoppers, farmers and restaurants to adapt.

A pound of ground beef cost $6.67 just before the Fourth of July weekend, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), marking the highest price for beef ever recorded by the group.

It was up nearly 70 cents from May, when the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported it skyrocketed 16% from a year earlier and nearly 50% from five years ago.