(Missourinet) – Beef prices are up 10-percent this year, but Missouri economist Bob Maltsbarger says that doesn’t seem to be slowing demand. “We are at 50-60 year lows for beef cow inventories and what that means is we’ve got tighter supplies on the beef front. He cites basic economics for the higher prices, -very low cattle inventory along with strong demand. He notes while overall inflation has cooled a bit, beef prices are expected to be higher again next year. Maltsbarger is with the University of Missouri’s Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute.