Per capita pork consumption

n 2025, per capita pork consumption is projected to reach 52.0 pounds, representing a slight decrease of 0.4% compared with the previous year. This marginal decline reflects a normalization in consumer behavior following more volatile years characterized by pandemic disruptions and heightened inflation. Economic stabilization in 2024 allowed consumers to absorb higher food prices, temporarily boosting pork consumption; however, the effects are expected to wane in 2025 as purchasing habits adjust to a lower inflation environment.

Between 2020 and 2025, per capita pork consumption saw moderate fluctuations, influenced primarily by the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, inflationary pressures, and changing consumer preferences. In 2020 and 2021, consumption remained subdued due to the temporary closure of foodservice establishments and consumer uncertainty, with consumers slowly readjusting their lifestyles. The reopening of restaurants led to a recovery in 2022, as more consumers returned to dining out and prepared fewer meals at home. However, high food prices and persistent inflation in 2023 reduced discretionary spending and shifted consumer priorities, resulting in a decrease in pork consumption, as meats are typically considered normal or luxury goods. While the easing of inflation in 2024 temporarily increased pork consumption, ongoing competition from alternatives such as poultry limited the extent of the rebound. Fluctuating pork prices and concerns about the cost of living continued to drive cautious purchasing decisions among households. Poultry has continued to exert downward pressure on pork consumption by remaining a cheaper and often perceived healthier option.

The modest overall growth in pork consumption over the 2020 to 2025 period highlights the sensitive interplay among macroeconomic conditions, inflation, and consumer sentiment. Recovery from pandemic-era uncertainty was uneven, with cost factors outweighing any temporary boosts provided by improved accessibility and dining activity. While pork remained a staple protein, its demand proved highly elastic in response to both consumer incomes and the changing competitive landscape in the protein market.