In February, the average retail price per pound for beef was $3.87, up 12.4% versus a year ago, according to market research firm FreshLook Data. The average retail price for a pound of chicken was up 3.9% in February versus a year ago, turkey was up 5.4%, veal up 6.7% and pork up 10%. Among all meat production, beef producers typically incur some of the highest production costs. For example, costs for cattle farming are much higher than for poultry farming.