Planning a cookout for July 4th? Here’s a look at what it could cost

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Today we’re looking at a survey from the American Farm Bureau Federation that finds good news and bad news for your July 4th cookout .? The good: some items are more affordable this year. The bad: it’s the second costliest year on record for a July 4th cookout.

WHAT'S BETTER:

• Families firing up the grill for Independence Day can expect to pay $67.73 for a party of 10 – down 3% from last year’s record high, according to the shopping survey.
• Most of the 12 cookout staple items that were surveyed saw decreases. Shoppers will see the biggest savings on items that broke records last year like chicken. Poultry is more affordable this year as cases of avian flu have fallen. Two pounds of chicken breasts cost $8.14 on average, down 9% from last year.
• Lemonade saw the biggest drop in price, down 16% from last year at $3.73 for 2.5 quarts.

?WHAT'S WORSE:

• On the flip side, hamburger buns, beef and potato salad are among the staple items that are pricier this year.
• A pack of hamburger buns saw the biggest increase at 17% – $2.26/pack.
• Cost of beef is up 4% to $11.54 for two pounds thanks to the cost of feed for cattle and decreased herd size.
• Potato prices also rose because of poor growing weather, the Farm Bureau says.

BIG PICTURE:

• This year’s cookout cost is the second highest on record, following last year’s record of $69.68 for a party of 10. The American Farm Bureau Federation has been conducting the survey since 2013.
• The pinch of high inflation remains: The cost of this year’s cookout is 14% higher than two years ago.?
• Items in the survey also included pork chops, cheese, pork and beans, potato chips, ice cream and strawberries.??
• “Don’t assume farmers come out as winners from higher prices at the grocery store either. They’re price takers, not price makers, whose share of the retail food dollar is just 14%. Farmers have to pay for fuel, fertilizer and other expenses, which have all gone up in cost,” says Roger Cryan, chief economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?? Have prices changed your cookout plans?? Would you forgo beef for another meat?? Why aren’t hot dogs on this list?

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