Beef is at record high prices and Americans are buying more of it than ever.

In 2025, shoppers spent more than $45 billion on beef, buying more than 6.2 billion pounds, according to data from Beef Research, a contractor for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. That’s enough to give everyone on the planet three hamburgers.

Compared to the year prior, spending rose about 12%, while the amount of beef sold climbed more than 4%. In short, consumers aren’t just paying higher prices; they’re buying more beef, too.

That demand is also reflected in the meat case, where beef accounts for more than half of all fresh meat dollars, far outpacing other protein options like chicken, pork and seafood.

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According to U.S. Department of Agriculture data, the average price of beef in grocery stores climbed from about $8.40 per pound in March to $10.10 per pound by December 2025, a roughly 20% increase.

Economists say that deep-rooted demand is helping drive prices higher and there’s little sign it will ease anytime soon.

Glynn Tonsor, a professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University, told Fox News Digital that strong consumer demand continues to push beef prices upward.

“There’s nothing that forces me or you or anybody else when we go into the grocery store to pay more for beef. People are choosing to,” he said. “The consumer desire for beef is strong and, regardless of the supply-side situation, that has the effect of pulling prices up.”

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But even with strong consumer appetite keeping the market buoyant, ranchers are facing challenges on the other end of the supply chain.

Years of drought, high feed costs and an aging ranching population have thinned herds across the country, leaving the U.S. cattle supply at its lowest level in more than 70 years.

Derrell Peel, a professor of agricultural economics at Oklahoma State University, said the current supply crunch won’t be fixed overnight.

“The fact of the matter is there’s really nothing anybody can do to change this very quickly,” Peel said. “We’re in a tight supply situation that took several years to develop, and it’ll take several years to get out of it.”

Meanwhile, the Trump administration says it is working to ease beef prices by temporarily increasing imports from Argentina, while also laying out longer-term plans to bolster the U.S. cattle industry.

EXCLUSIVE: Turning Point Action, the political arm of the late Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA, has endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in his bid to unseat longtime incumbent Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, in a race that could determine whether the GOP maintains its Senate majority.

Turning Point’s endorsement of Paxton is the fourth such endorsement of a Senate candidate in this cycle and emphasizes the importance of the race on the national stage. This comes as Democrats see an opening to possibly flip a Texas Senate seat blue, which would deal a devastating loss to the GOP’s chances of retaining its majority.

In response to the endorsement, Paxton told Fox News Digital, “I’m honored to be endorsed by Turning Point Action as we fight to defend our conservative values and preserve the freedom of the next generation.”

“The movement and the organization that Charlie Kirk built has inspired millions of people across the world, and the work that Turning Point Action continues to do is critical for safeguarding our nation’s future,” Paxton went on. “I am proud to be standing alongside Turning Point Action in that mission and carrying on in the fight to save this country for our young people.”

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“Together, we will protect our freedom and secure our nation’s future,” he said.

Paxton and Cornyn are locked in a bitter primary contest that also includes Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas. Whoever emerges victorious will face off against prominent Democrat Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, or rising star state Rep. James Talarico.

The attorney general is a hard-line conservative and longtime vocal supporter of President Donald Trump. He has served as the attorney general of Texas since 2015. Since launching his Senate bid in April, he has touted himself as an “America First Warrior” and framed his candidacy as an anti-establishment effort to push back against “RINO [Republican-In-Name-Only] Republicans.”

Though Trump has so far opted out of getting involved in the race, his presence looms large, with both candidates emphasizing their cooperation with the president.  

If elected, Paxton has promised to “champion President Trump’s legislative priorities.”

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Meanwhile, Cornyn, a high-ranking member of the Republican Party who has held the seat since 2002, has also touted conservative bona fides and his working relationship with Trump, emphasizing he “votes with President Trump 99% of the time.”

Turning Point’s endorsement pits the group against the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the GOP’s Senate campaign arm, which has endorsed and supports Cornyn.

Though silent thus far, Trump recently hinted he may issue an endorsement in the Texas Senate race soon. The Hill reported the president announcing, “I’m giving it a very serious look.”

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“You know, my problem is I’m friendly with all of them. I like all of them, all three,” Trump said.

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“But you’ll be seeing soon,” he went on. “They say whoever I endorse wins. That’s probably right.” 

TUCSON, Ariz. – Authorities in Arizona have revealed that the mother of NBC “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie was possibly kidnapped from her home as investigators continue to search for the missing 84-year-old woman. 

Nancy Guthrie was last seen Saturday evening at her residence near East Skyline Drive and North Campbell Avenue, north of Tucson, around 9:30 p.m. after family members dropped her off at her home, according to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. 

“Sheriff [Chris] Nanos has stated that he believes that a crime has been committed,” a spokesperson for Pima County Sheriff’s Office confirmed to Fox News Digital.  “At this point, investigators believe she was taken from the home against her will and that includes possible kidnapping or abduction.”

Evidence also suggests Nancy Guthrie was harmed as she was being taken, but the extent of her injuries have not been revealed, according to NBC Nightly News. 

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“I can’t think of the last time where, in the middle of the night in someone’s bed, an 84-year-old woman disappeared on us,” Nanos said in an interview with NBC Nightly News’ Tom Llamas Monday evening. 

Additionally, Nanos told NewsNation there have been no ransom demands in Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance. 

A relative of Guthrie’s contacted authorities around noon on Sunday to report her missing after she did not show up for church, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said.

“We’re pretty much just throwing everything at this that we can. Guthrie is 84 years old and is not of good physical health, and so naturally that’s a great concern,” Nanos said in a Sunday press conference, adding that the scene at the house raised “some concerns for us as well.”

“This is very concerning to us. We don’t typically get the sheriff out at a scene like this. But it’s very concerning what we’re learning from the house,” Nanos said. “And so we’ll just continue. The detective’s homicide team is out right now looking at the scene as well.”

On Monday, Nanos told reporters that investigators found a crime scene at Nancy Guthrie’s house and that she did not leave on her own.

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“We believe now, after we processed that crime scene, that we do, in fact, have a crime scene that we do, in fact, have a crime,” Nanos said. “She did not leave on her own. We know that.”

While authorities initially launched a search-and-rescue mission for Nancy Guthrie, Nanos added that it has been shut down, saying, “We don’t see this as a search mission as much as we do a crime scene.”

Nanos also revealed that Nancy has physical ailments that limit her mobility, but is of “good sound mind” and requires medication that could be fatal if not taken within 24 hours, according to NBC News. 

“She could not walk out of that home 50 yards,” Nanos told the outlet. 

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In a statement released to NBC’s “Today,” Savannah Guthrie thanked investigators while calling for the public’s help in finding her mother.

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“On behalf of our family, I want to thank everyone for the thoughts, prayers and messages of support. Right now, our focus remains on the safe return of our dear mom,” the statement said.

“We thank law enforcement for their hard work on this case and encourage anyone with information to contact the Pima County Sheriff’s department at: 520-351-4900,” it continued.

Fox News Digital’s Bradford Betz, Adam Sabes and Stephen Sorache contributed to this report.