Picanha, prices and politics: What Brazil's favorite steak says about the election

Lula promised Brazilians four years ago they'd be able to afford picanha again. Now, as he seeks another term, the price of the country's favorite cut of beef is telling a different story.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/5616x3744+0+0/resize/5616x3744!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F78%2Fc7%2Fb698faa9412ba675ccc14a722726%2Fap26272666310914.jpg' alt='A street vendor sells campaign flags of presidential candidates Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro and current President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who is running for reelection in Brasilia, Brazil, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026.'/><p>Lula promised Brazilians four years ago they'd be able to afford picanha again. Now, as he seeks another term, the price of the country's favorite cut of beef is telling a different story.</p><p>(Image credit: Eraldo Peres)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-5986079' />