Beef and milk prices drop but remain far above last year's cost
Beef and milk prices fell 1.8 per cent in September but remain much higher than a year ago.
Australian supermarket prices for beef and dairy eased again in September, continuing a two-month trend of relief at the checkout. Beef dropped 1.8 per cent, milk fell 1.8 per cent, and lamb slipped another 1 per cent.
Pork and poultry also declined. Beef is still 9.2 per cent more expensive than September 2025, and milk is up 5.5 per cent.
Lamb remains the highest at 9.4 per cent above last year. Fruit prices bounced back 1.9 per cent after two months of falls, while vegetables eased slightly.
The price relief in recent months suggests that drops at the farm are finally reaching shoppers, but for most food categories, prices have not yet fallen below what Australians paid a year ago.
- 1.8 per cent
- Beef monthly fall
- 1.8 per cent
- Milk monthly fall
- 9.2 per cent vs September 2025
- Beef annual increase
- 5.5 per cent vs September 2025
- Milk annual increase
Why it mattersMonthly price drops are welcome, but groceries remain significantly more expensive year-on-year, so household food budgets are still under pressure.
AustraliaAustralian families buying beef and dairy will see smaller prices at checkout this month but should expect to pay more overall than they did in 2025.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 3 h ago
