Braving the High Costs of Summer
American families are confronting a kitchen table crisis this summer.
“Record-High July 4th Cookout Costs: Inflation Hits the Backyard,” wrote Berny Nelson and Samatha Ayoub for Farm Bureau’s Market Intel blog on June 26.
“Americans will be gathering on the Fourth of July for a day of fireworks, food, parades, and more,” they began. “But as you celebrate with your friends and family this Independence Day, your cookout bill will be a bit higher.”
A bit higher indeed: “With plenty of options to feed a hungry crowd, a group of 10 this year can expect to pay $71.22 for their celebration, up 5% from last year and up 30% from five years ago,” according to FB. “Nationally, this means we are surpassing $7 per person for the first time, with the total meal coming to $7.12 a person.”
The Farm Bureau’s yearly roundup of food prices casts a nationwide survey net. It is also an apples-to-apples comparison of grocery costs, as the organization compares prices for the same menu every year: “Cheeseburgers, chicken breasts, pork chops, potato chips, pork and beans, fresh strawberries, homemade potato salad, fresh-squeezed lemonade, chocolate chip cookies, and ice cream.”
“Our volunteer shoppers had their most expensive Fourth of July grocery bill in the history of the survey this year,” admitted Farm…