Cost of July 4th Cookout Up 17% From 2021

Cape Town, South Africa

The Michigan Farm Bureau reports this year’s July 4th meal for ten people will cost $69.68, based on a new American Farm Bureau Federation marketbasket survey. The report said the overall cost for the cookout is up 17%, or about $10 from last year, a result of ongoing supply chain disruptions, inflation and the war in Ukraine.

Data for this year’s survey was collected by 176 volunteer shoppers across the country and in Puerto Rico, including Farm Bureau members and others. | AFBF

The marketbasket survey shows the largest year-to-year price increase was for ground beef. Survey results showed the retail price for 2 pounds of ground beef at $11.12, up 36% from last year. Several other foods in the survey, including chicken breasts, pork chops, homemade potato salad, fresh-squeezed lemonade, pork & beans, hamburger buns and cookies, also increased in price.

“Despite increased food prices, in many cases the higher prices farmers are being paid aren’t covering the rise in farm expenses,” said Loren Koeman, Michigan Farm Bureau lead economist. “Supply chain disruptions and inflation have made farm supplies, like fuel and fertilizer, more expensive. Just like consumers, farmers are price-takers — not price-makers.”

The year-to-year direction of the marketbasket survey tracks with the federal government’s Consumer Price Index report for food at home and general inflation across the economy. Both the index and the marketbasket show increases of more than 10% compared to year-ago levels.

One bright spot for consumers is the average retail price for strawberries, which declined by 86 cents compared to a year ago. Sliced cheese and potato chips also dropped in price, 48 cents and 22 cents, respectively. Better weather conditions in some fruit-growing regions and greater retailer pricing flexibility for processed products are the likely drivers behind the modest price declines for these items.

“While some costs are slightly higher there remains an abundance of food thanks to the tireless work of farmers in Michigan, and across the country,” Koeman said. “Farmers are resilient and steadfast in their commitment to providing healthy, nutritious food to families in America and beyond.”

Individual prices, AFBF 2022 summer cookout: