Fourth of July Cookouts to Cost More This Year

(KNSI) — Experts say that those firing up their grills for Independence Day celebrations should expect to pay more for some traditional barbecue staples.

According to an American Farm Bureau Federation estimate, the average cookout for ten will cost around $72 this year. That’s up 5% from last year and about 30% from 2019.

Looking at prices for meats such as beef, chicken, and pork (+8%), items like cheese (+1%) and buns (+7%), a side dish of beans (+2%) and fruit (+1%) and goodies like potato chips, (+8%) chocolate chip cookies, (+2%) ice cream (+7%) and a cold tangy glass of lemonade, grocery prices are still going up, but at their pre-pandemic pace of roughly 1% per year.

Experts say to get ready to pay more for ground beef (+11%) and lemonade (+12%). That’s largely due to a low beef supply and a devastating outbreak of a greening disease making its way across California, the country’s largest lemon producer. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, lemon production will fall an estimated 16% this year. The Farm Bureau says sugar will also cost more due in part to slower production at a global rate.

The price for a two pound pack of chicken breasts has fallen about 4% from 2023, and down 13% from the year before thanks to a rebounding supply of birds thanks to slowing rates of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. The cost of potato salad is also down 4% thanks to the cost of potatoes of 17%.

Regardless, meat makes up around 50% of the total cost of a typical Independence Day barbecue.

According to the Consumer Price Index, the cost of a meal at one’s favorite restaurant has gone up 4%.

Anyone looking to wash down all that delicious food with a beverage from an aluminum can should prepare to pay up. Thanks to higher metal costs, the price for a 12 ounce can of pop has increased 4.8% year over year.

Anyone looking to save money can learn from their coupon clipping family members and friends. Experts say to do research and check the grocery ads, as stores often run sales and deals ahead of the big holiday. Also, they say don’t be afraid to shop around, compare prices, and consider buying store brand alternatives to national brand items.

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