The State of Rio Grande do Sul presents various situations considering geographical, economical and environmental aspects. This study considers the regional division suggested by ALONSO et al. (1994): Southern half, Northern Half and Northeast. The primary sector is the base of Southern half economy and livestock production is its main product. The Northern half has crop production as its main economical resource, while the Northeast is characterized by the presence of various industrial sectors and large urban concentration. Consumer preferences are directly influenced by age, income, level of education, patterns of mobility and personal taste. The aim of this study was to verify price behaviour of different beef cuts. The research was done through a monthly data collection in supermarkets, during the periods of 2006/2007 and 2007/2008, considering the price of different beef cuts in eleven cities. The lowest and highest prices of beef cuts were verified in the Southern half and in the Northeast, respectively, which is probably due to the fact that one is the main producer and the other is the main consumer. Another important result is that the highest price variation in beef cuts also happened in these regions. Thus, when there is a higher demand than supply, the first to receive these impact on price are these regions.
regional economy; regional differences; beef cuts
