Inflation insights

Retail food and beverage price growth remained mild at 2% year-over-year in April 2026 (four weeks ending 4/26/2026). However, this was up from 1.5% in March and the overall increase masked a growing divergence: center-store items continued to see meaningful inflation, while perishable departments experienced slight deflation.

• Center-store prices averaged $4.09 per unit, up 4.3% year-over-year. 
• Perishable prices averaged $4.37 per unit, down 0.3% versus April 2025.

Prices continued to increase in the meat department, including those in processed meat with Easter purchases and promotions split between March and April. 

Circana, Integrated Fresh, Total US, MULO+

Fresh meat inflation was predominantly driven by turkey, exotic (including bison) and lamb, followed by beef and hotdogs. Despite inflation, the average price per pound for chicken and pork remained less than half that of beef. Beef inflation is slowing somewhat when comparing the rate of change for April (+6.3%) to that in the full-year view (+7.5%). 

Circana, Integrated Fresh, Total US, MULO+

Meat sales

Meat sales reflected a split performance, largely due to the mismatch in Easter timing. With Easter falling on April 5, purchases were split between the March and April reports. This is particularly true for smoked ham, which tends to be purchased the week before the holiday week.

This resulted in a strong month for fresh meat, with growth in dollars, units and pounds. However, smoked ham sales had a substantial influence on the negative performance in processed meat.

Circana, Integrated Fresh, Total US, MULO+

Meat department sales have been positive since the fourth quarter of 2023, with dollar gains reflecting a combination of inflation and demand growth. April dollar gains were slightly lower than those in recent months, which is largely due to the shift in Easter dates.

First-quarter pound growth, at +1.1%, was consistent with the prior two quarters. However, with the shift in Easter timing, April pound sales fell behind year-ago levels for the first time since the second quarter of 2024. 

Circana, Integrated Fresh, MULO+

April delivered pound growth one out of the four weeks. Beef bucked the trend once again, posting dollar and pound growth in two out of the four weeks, with nearly 10% volume growth during the week of Easter.

Circana, Integrated Fresh, MULO+

Fresh meat sales by protein 

Mirroring the March results, beef and chicken drove all gains in fresh meat in April. Beef generated 8% growth in dollars, while chicken led pound growth, at +3%. Turkey and lamb pounds were down double digits compared to year-ago, related to both inflation and the Easter date mismatch. 

Circana, Integrated Fresh, MULO+

Processed meat 

The earlier Easter helped boost smoked ham sales in March, but led to substantial declines in April. Other processed meats had a more mixed month: bacon and packaged lunchmeat volumes dipped below year-ago levels, while dinner sausage and processed chicken (strips, nuggets, etc.) grew dollars and volume. 

Circana, Integrated Fresh, MULO+

Grinds
 Ground beef sales reached $1.4 billion in April. This was up 12.0% in dollars and 1.4% in pounds. Ground chicken remained a fast up-and-comer, while turkey lost ground with rising prices. Ground pork also continued to grow in dollars and pounds. 

What’s next?

• Convenience store sales, excluding fuel sales, hit $341 billion in 2025, according to the National Association of Convenience Stores. This reflected an increase of 1.7% over 2024. Foodservice represented 28.5% of total sales. The category has grown significantly over the past two decades, up from 11.9% in 2005, according to NACS, and contributed 38.9% of in-store gross profit dollars.
• Convenience store foodservice sales include hot and cold prepared foods as well as dispensed beverages. Prepared food, including pizza, chicken, burgers, wraps and salads, remained the largest segment, representing 73.9% of foodservice sales, up from 66.4% in 2021.

Date ranges 

2025: 52 weeks ending 12/28/2025       

Q1 2026: 13 weeks ending 03/29/2026 

April 2026: 4 weeks ending 04/26/2026