A combination of hot weather and holidays and have contributed to August 2026’s AIMS meat and poultry supermarket price report showing a near no change position across the month.
“Overall average prices for the AIMS basket of 30 fresh British beef, lamb, pork, and chicken cuts rose by just 0.08% (+£0.01kg) during the month. Beef mince, both lean and standard fell 1.51% (-£0.16kg) and 0.61% (-£0.04kg) respectively suggesting suggests that supermarkets have used some targeted pricing in this highly important category to keep footfall into stores,” said Tony Goodger, head of communications at AIMS.
“An increase of £1.08kg (7.92%) on shanks was a noticeable upward move in lamb but with steaks falling by £0.42kg (2.07%) chops rising by £0.33kg (1.74%) and no other price movements the recent steep month on month increases have slowed to just an overall +£0.14kg (0.79%)”.
“Pork and chicken continue to the home of good value within the overall protein category with the former down £0.11kg (-1.56%) and the latter almost unchanged during the month”, Tony continued.
“Looking at the last twelve months August 2026 shows, for the first time since we started reporting on supermarket prices, no change verses August 2025” said Goodger.
“With the exception lamb which has risen overall by £1.15kg (+6.9%) beef is down 2.75%, pork, 4.66% and chicken 5.78%”.
“We have spoken about protein switching over the last six months the key chicken lines of breast portions and thigh fillets have dropped by 10.2% and 13.94% respectively suggesting that as these are highly popular and versatile cuts for a wide range of eating occasions and it is of note that a significant amount of supermarket advertising both in store and out of store is focused on chicken and Aldi price match.
“Last years record high deadweight prices for cattle have calmed over the last twelve months and is reflected in several key cuts dropping in price. Meanwhile, pork chops (down 15.49% and loin steaks (down 15.11%) reflect a general malaise across the pig industry.”