Federal officials announced Thursday they have reached a settlement agreement with an Indiana-based data company that was accused of facilitating anti-competitive behavior in the meat industry, a move that could lead to lower prices at grocery stores.
Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche revealed that the Department of Justice, along with six states, has concluded their civil case against Agri Stats without going to trial. The lawsuit, originally filed in September 2023, claimed the company’s weekly industry reports on pricing and sales data helped create unfair advantages in the chicken, pork, and turkey markets.
According to Blanche, Agri Stats had been operating a system that allowed meat producers exclusive access to sensitive market information, which he said “putting buyers of meat – like grocery stores and restaurants – at a competitive disadvantage.”
The resolution comes as the Trump administration faces mounting pressure over rising living costs, with many Americans expressing dissatisfaction with how inflation has affected their household budgets.
Under the settlement terms, Blanche explained on social media that the agreement “forces Agri Stats to make its reports available to all buyers and sellers to ensure every level of the food supply chain operates on an even playing field. This settlement means that meat prices will go down for consumers.”
Agri Stats had previously denied the allegations, calling them unfounded and arguing that their services actually helped reduce prices. The company has not yet issued a statement regarding Thursday’s settlement announcement, and specific details of the agreement have not been made public.
This resolution represents the latest in a series of legal challenges for Agri Stats. Earlier this year, the company agreed to resolve a separate federal class action lawsuit that accused it of working with major red meat processing companies to artificially suppress wages for plant workers across the United States.
The company also settled another wage-related antitrust case in October, this time involving allegations that it collaborated with poultry processors in Maryland federal court to keep worker compensation below market rates.
As part of these previous settlements, Agri Stats committed to modifying how it handles and reports labor-related information going forward.
