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AFBF survey: July 4th cookout remains affordable
The cost of a cookout for July 4th remains affordable, according to a survey by American Farm Bureau.
Acting Chief Economist Veronica Nigh says the average cost of a summer cookout for 10 people is $59.50.
“That’s down less than one percent, or 16 cents from last year,” she says. “Prices were impacted last year, however, by the pandemic so we also compared our survey results to 2019, which shows an increase of eight percent from that year.”
AFBF’s summer cookout menu includes cheeseburgers, chicken breasts, center-cut pork chops, potato chips, pork and beans, homemade potato salad, fresh-squeezed lemonade, ice cream, strawberries, and chocolate chip cookies.
Strawberries saw the largest year-to-year price increase. The survey shows two pints of strawberries at $5.30, up 22 percent, because of strong demand and some harvest setbacks early in the year.
Nigh tells Brownfield retail price changes for items in the meat case are a little more complex.
“Beef and pork prices are lower than last year because packing plant disruptions that occurred early in the pandemic have largely been resolved,” she says. “However, prices are still considerably higher than pre-pandemic prices that we experienced in 2019 due to strong demand in the U.S. and internationally.”
Other food items that saw increases include chocolate chip cookies, hamburger buns, potato salad, and chicken breasts.
The prices were lower for pork and beans, ground beef, ice cream, pork chops, sliced cheese, lemonade, and potato chips.
This year’s July 4th cookout survey combines Bureau of Labor Statistics food price data with results collected by more than 160 volunteer rural shoppers across the country and in Puerto Rico, including Farm Bureau members and others.
Click here for more information.
Audio: Veronica Nigh
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