Trending Now - Trump Administration Resolves Meatpacking Antitrust Case to Lower Food Costs

WHO:

AP - The Trump administration, Agri Stats, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, Eric Scholer (president of Agri Stats).

WHAT:

AP - The Trump administration has reached a proposed settlement in an antitrust case against Agri Stats, a data-sharing company in the meatpacking industry.

AP - The Justice Department stated that the settlement aims to lower grocery prices for Americans.

AP - Under the proposed settlement, Agri Stats will be required to share most of the information it collects from processors with U.S. buyers.

AP - U.S. beef prices have been climbing steadily since 2020, with a pound of ground beef averaging $6.70 in March, which is 16% higher than the previous year.

WHERE:

AP - The case involves Agri Stats, which is based in Indiana, and the broader U.S. meatpacking industry.

WHEN:

AP - The investigation into potential antitrust violations in the beef processing industry was initiated following a request from Trump.

AP - The closures of the U.S.-Mexico border to livestock imports began in late 2024.

WHY:

AP - The federal government accused Agri Stats of helping to inflate prices charged by chicken, pork, and turkey processors to buyers who did not have access to its data.

AP - The rising beef prices are attributed to several factors, including drought and a shrinking cattle herd size.

HOW:

AP - Agri Stats collects nonpublic information from meat processors and shares it in detailed reports with the industry.

(UPDATED May 9, 2026 05:51 UTC)

The Trump administration has proposed a settlement in an antitrust case against Agri Stats, a data-sharing company in the meatpacking industry, with the goal of lowering grocery prices for Americans. Under this proposed agreement, Agri Stats will be required to share most of the information it collects from processors with U.S. buyers, as beef prices have been steadily climbing, averaging $6.70 per pound for ground beef in March, which is 16% higher than the previous year. The investigation into potential antitrust violations was initiated following a request from Trump, as the federal government accused Agri Stats of inflating prices charged by chicken, pork, and turkey processors.