This makes no sense. If they don’t lower operating costs, do you think their prices will go down?
I do not believe their prices will go down, whether they lower their operating costs or not.
As I mentioned before, the general behavior of corporate executives is to give themselves big raises or bonuses if operating profits improve. It is not to lower customer prices.
The beef industry is shrinking into a luxury niche market which will be dominated by two or three "competitors" on the meat packing side. All the more reason why price competition is unlikely at the retail end, and we will not see lower prices.
Sure, we will see "sales" at the supermarkets. Those are 20% off on a price that went up 50% in the previous two months. "This week only - buy now". I already see this at my supermarkets.
Beef - it's not what's for dinner anymore.