DOJ Seeks Beef Price Data From Amazon, Walmart in Antitrust Probe

September 2, 2026 at 10:33 PM2 min

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The US Justice Department demanded beef pricing data from eight major retailers, including Amazon, Costco, and Walmart, as part of an antitrust probe into the meatpacking industry. Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward sent letters dated July 14 seeking six years of purchasing, pricing, and margin details. The move comes as ground beef prices remain near record highs, averaging $7.116 per pound in July.

Key Facts

The Justice Department sent letters dated July 14 to eight retailers, including Amazon, Costco, and Walmart, requesting six years of beef purchasing and pricing data.
Ground beef averaged $7.116 per pound in July, near an all-time high, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
President Donald Trump announced he would allow up to 300,000 metric tons of beef imports at lower tariff rates over 90 days to boost supplies.
Walmart said in July it would cut prices of seasonal products, including beef.

The Data Request

Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, the Justice Department's No. 3 official, sent the letters last month to Amazon, Costco, Walmart, Albertsons, Kroger, Ahold Delhaize USA, Publix, and Aldi. The letters asked for details on beef purchasing and strategy, retail pricing, profit margins, and market analysis for the past six years. The Justice Department disclosed the request in a social media post on Tuesday.

Antitrust Probe

In May, the Justice Department said it was examining potential antitrust violations in meatpacking. President Donald Trump publicly requested the probe last year amid record beef prices. Woodward is overseeing antitrust enforcement while the Senate considers Trump's nominee for the role.

Beef Price Surge

Beef prices have repeatedly topped records, making it one of the biggest drivers of food inflation. Ground beef averaged $7.116 a pound in July, plateauing slightly but remaining near an all-time high. Trump has tried to tamp down prices before the midterm elections in November.