Price of a pound of sirloin steak by year, 1989–2025
A pound of sirloin steak cost $3.93 on average in 1989 and $12.97 in 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The price rose 230% over those years while prices in general rose 160%, so, measured in 2025 dollars, it cost 27% more in 2025 than in 1989.
- Average in 1989
- $3.93
- Average in 2025
- $12.97
- Highest year, 2025
- $12.97
- Biggest one-year rise, 2021
- +15%
- Against inflation
- Beat it by 27%
Every year
The table lists all 37 years with data, from 1989 to 2025. Select a year to see what everything else cost that year.
| Year | Average price | In 2025 dollars | Change from year before |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | $3.93 | $10.20 | — |
| 1990 | $4.13 | $10.17 | +5% |
| 1991 | $4.29 | $10.14 | +4% |
| 1992 | $4.22 | $9.68 | −2% |
| 1993 | $4.41 | $9.83 | +5% |
| 1994 | $4.25 | $9.23 | −4% |
| 1995 | $4.23 | $8.94 | 0% |
| 1996 | $4.21 | $8.64 | 0% |
| 1997 | $4.21 | $8.44 | 0% |
| 1998 | $4.19 | $8.28 | 0% |
| 1999 | $4.37 | $8.44 | +4% |
| 2000 | $4.73 | $8.84 | +8% |
| 2001 | $5.27 | $9.58 | +11% |
| 2002 | $5.30 | $9.48 | +1% |
| 2003 | $5.94 | $10.39 | +12% |
| 2004 | $6.62 | $11.28 | +11% |
| 2005 | $6.11 | $10.07 | −8% |
| 2006 | $5.98 | $9.55 | −2% |
| 2007 | $5.97 | $9.27 | 0% |
| 2008 | $5.99 | $8.96 | 0% |
| 2009 | $5.83 | $8.75 | −3% |
| 2010 | $5.83 | $8.61 | 0% |
| 2011 | $6.23 | $8.92 | +7% |
| 2012 | $6.65 | $9.32 | +7% |
| 2013 | $6.83 | $9.44 | +3% |
| 2014 | $7.69 | $10.46 | +13% |
| 2015 | $8.57 | $11.64 | +11% |
| 2016 | $8.39 | $11.25 | −2% |
| 2017 | $8.05 | $10.57 | −4% |
| 2018 | $8.40 | $10.77 | +4% |
| 2019 | $8.37 | $10.54 | 0% |
| 2020 | $8.95 | $11.13 | +7% |
| 2021 | $10.31 | $12.25 | +15% |
| 2022 | $10.52 | $11.57 | +2% |
| 2023 | $11.07 | $11.70 | +5% |
| 2024 | $11.65 | $11.96 | +5% |
| 2025 | $12.97 | $12.97 | +11% |
Decade by decade
In the 1980s, only 1989 has data, at $3.93. The 1990s averaged $4.25: the most expensive year was 1993 at $4.41 and the cheapest 1990 at $4.13. In the 2000s, a pound of sirloin steak averaged $5.77, from a low of $4.73 in 2000 to a high of $6.62 in 2004. Across the 2010s the yearly average ran from $5.83 in 2010 to $8.57 in 2015, for a decade average of $7.50. The 2020s averaged $10.91: the most expensive year was 2025 at $12.97 and the cheapest 2020 at $8.95.
Every five years in this record: 1990 $4.13, 1995 $4.23, 2000 $4.73, 2005 $6.11, 2010 $5.83, 2015 $8.57, 2020 $8.95 and 2025 $12.97. From 2021 to 2025, the most recent years of data, the average rose 26%, from $10.31 to $12.97.
Against inflation
In 2025 dollars, the 1989 average of $3.93 is worth $10.20. The actual 2025 average was $12.97. So a pound of sirloin steak outpaced prices in general: after adjusting for inflation, it cost 27% more in 2025 than in 1989.
Highs, lows and big moves
The highest yearly average in this record is $12.97 in 2025, and the lowest is $3.93 in 1989. The biggest one-year increase was 15%, from $8.95 in 2020 to $10.31 in 2021. The biggest one-year decrease was 8%, from $6.62 in 2004 to $6.11 in 2005.
Of the 10 items in meat and poultry tracked here, 4 rose faster than inflation over their full records, and this is one of them. This record starts in 1989, the first year with at least nine months of Bureau prices.
Average prices are U.S. city averages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (series APU0000703613), averaged over each calendar year. A year is included only when the Bureau published at least nine months of prices for it. Values in 2025 dollars use the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) annual average. See how Sticker Shock builds its data. Figures may contain errors and are not financial advice.