 As both summer grilling and high-end restaurant traffic slows in the heat of summer, that's exactly what's happening right now. Oklahoma State University's Dr. Darrell Peel says that the early July drop in boxed beef price is the result of seasonal weakness in the main middle meats, tenderloin, ribeye, and strip loin. He says wholesale prices for a number of other cuts continue to move higher, though, including tri-tip and flank steak.