Price of a Fourth of July cookout has risen 17% compared to last year

On Monday, The American Farm Bureau Federation released a new survey showing that the cost of an Independence Day cookout will cost American consumers 17% more than it did last year.

The survey goes onto say that the cost of catering to 10 guests, on average, will cost nearly $70 this year, which represents an increase of about $10 from 2021. Beef products jumped the highest, with two pounds of beef costing 36% more than they did last year. Chicken, lemonade and potato salad also saw a sizeable increase.

AFBF Chief Economist Roger Cryan stated that farmers are also struggling just as much as consumers. “Despite higher food prices, the supply chain disruptions and inflation have made farm supplies more expensive; like consumers, farmers are price-takers not price-makers,” Cryan said.

He added, “Bottom line, in many cases the higher prices farmers are being paid aren’t covering the increase in their farm expenses. The cost of fuel is up and fertilizer prices have tripled.”

As a result of the war in Ukraine, American companies are unable to import Russian and Belarussian fertilizers due to current restrictions.

AFBF President Zippy Duvall also spoke out regarding food security, saying: “The increased cost of food and supplies is a very real concern in our country and across the globe. U.S. food assistance programs and food banks help those who struggle to make ends meet here at home, but the story is much different around the globe as food insecurity skyrockets. The big impact of a single event in Ukraine shows how dependent the world is on stable, productive agriculture.”

The July 4th cookout survey is part of the Farm Bureau market basket series, which also includes the cost of Thanksgiving Dinner.

Data for this year’s survey was collected by 176 volunteer shoppers across the country and in Puerto Rico.