Rossen Reports: Why your summer barbecue will cost more

Summer barbecues are getting more expensive and there’s one food in particular that’s really jacking up the bill — beef.How much more expensive? Ground beef has jumped up 3.5% while steaks are up 3%.What’s the reason? Farmers started selling cattle to combat severe drought and higher feed costs. So there’s just less of it going into production. In fact, this problem is going to keep getting worse. Beef production is expected to drop 8% in the next year.So how can you save money? If you see a sale, stock up and put some of that beef in the freezer. You’ll see more buy-one-get-one sales around the fourth of July. Also, buy store-brand.It tends to be cheaper than name-brand. Finally, a lot of meat counters will put beef on sale first thing in the morning to make room for newer cuts. So ask when they start discounting and try to get there as soon as they open. Some shopping experts buy beef that’s about to expire because it’s on deep discount. Just make sure to cook and eat it right away.