Beef lovers could be in for sticker shock at the grocery store this holiday season.

A nationwide cattle shortage is pushing prices higher, and federal data show shoppers may pay nearly 15 percent more for beef than they did last year.

Government numbers put the average direct-to-consumer price of ground beef patties at just over 12 dollars a pound this summer, with other ground beef ranging anywhere from 7 to 20 dollars a pound, depending on fat content.

Missouri cattle producer’s say ranchers are not getting rich off those prices.

Ranchers point to rising fuel, machinery, and labor costs, and a shrinking cattle herd that is hard to rebuild because cows are a year-round commitment.

Industry experts say fewer cattle on the market is the main driver of higher prices, and those prices are unlikely to drop until herds grow again.

That means consumers may keep paying more for beef, especially during high-demand times like the holidays.