Families firing up the grill for the Fourth of July will see higher grocery bills this year, with the cost of a summer cookout climbing to its highest level on record.
An Independence Day cookout for 10 people now averages $73.82, according to the 2026 American Farm Bureau Federation annual marketbasket survey. That’s up $2.90, or about 4%, from last year.
At roughly $7.38 per person, it marks the most expensive Fourth of July cookout since the survey began in 2016. Still, when adjusted for inflation, Farm Bureau says costs have remained relatively steady in recent years and remain below the 2022 peak.
Here’s a look at what’s driving the price of the backyard spread:
- Ground beef (2 lbs): $14.06 (+5.5%)
- Pork chops (3 lbs): $14.79 (+4.7%)
- Hamburger buns: $2.53 (+7.7%)
- Strawberries (2 pints): $5.27 (+12.4%)
- Pork and beans (32 oz): $3.06 (+13.8%)
- Potato salad (2½ lbs): $2.91 (−17.8%)
- Potato chips (16 oz): $4.76 (−0.8%)
Economist Faith Parum with the American Farm Bureau Federation said the increases largely reflect broader inflation trends, even as food prices have stabilized compared to recent spikes.
Farm Bureau data shows 10 of the 12 items in the cookout basket increased in price this year. Higher beef prices continue to reflect a historically tight cattle herd as ranchers slowly rebuild following years of drought. Strawberries saw one of the sharpest jumps, tied to spring frost damage in Florida and higher labor and transportation costs.
Not all items moved higher. Potato salad dropped nearly 18%, helped by lower egg prices as poultry flocks recover from avian influenza and strong potato harvests. Chips also edged slightly lower.
The broader Consumer Price Index shows overall inflation at 4.2% over the past year, with food prices up 3.1%.
The Fourth of July cookout survey is part of Farm Bureau’s annual marketbasket series, which also includes its Thanksgiving dinner cost study.