Pastrami Piled as High as New York, With Prices to Match

Short on dismal news? Have a look at this notice, taped to the counter at the Yankee Tavern on 161st Street in the Bronx.

“Due to the increased price of pastrami,” it began, unpromisingly, “we at the Yankee Tavern apologize for the increase in prices for the pastrami items.”

Pastrami is in crisis.

Semi-amusing first world problem story? Not quite, there is a very serious angle:

What is behind this? “Drought has put cattle inventory at its lowest level in 60 years,” Mr. Morrison said.

That’s Gary Morrison, a beef price analyst at Urner Barry, a food trade publisher. If he doesn’t know, nobody does.