Per Capita Consumption [Of Meat, 2007]
Analysts forecast that per-capita U.S. consumption of red meat and poultry has declined slightly in 2007 and will again in the coming year, due to higher retail prices. For 2007, the Livestock Marketing Information Center estimates per-capita beef and poultry consumption will decline by 0.5 and 2 pounds respectively, while per-capita pork consumption will increase by 0.9 pounds.
In 2007, U.S. consumption of beef is forecast to be just over 65 pounds, which is .5 pound less than the previous year and the lowest per-capita consumption of beef since 2003. Additionally, broiler consumption is projected to be just over 85 pounds, which is 2 pounds less than 2006, and the lowest per-capita consumption of chicken since 2004.
On the other hand, U.S. pork consumption is just over 50 pounds per person, which is an increase of .9 pounds from the previous year, and the largest since 2004.
In total, U.S. per capital consumption of red meat and poultry will likely be below the previous year by about 1.3 pounds, the lowest since 2001.
2008 forecasts are predicting additional decline in beef production but large increases in pork and poultry production. Overall U.S. per-capita consumption of all red meat and poultry will likely remain unchanged in 2008, but the consumption mix is predicted to change as pork and poultry replace beef.