Fourth of July Cookout Costs: What You Need to Know!

Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to talk turkey—or rather, beef, chicken, and pork—because the Fourth of July is just around the corner, and your cookout bills are about to get a reality check! According to the American Farm Bureau, the cost of feeding a crowd this year is finally starting to level out, but don't get too comfortable just yet. Let's dive into the numbers and see what's driving these price trends.

First things first: the total cost for a 10-person feast in 2025 is $70.92, which is only 3 cents lower than last year. That means each person’s meal will set you back $7.09. While that's a slight decrease from 2024, it's still 19% higher than five years ago. So, while prices are stabilizing, they're not returning to pre-inflation levels anytime soon.

Now, let's talk meat. Ground beef prices have skyrocketed to $13.33 for 2 pounds, the highest price ever recorded in this survey. Persistent drought conditions have shrunk the nation’s cattle herd to historic lows, and steady consumer demand is adding fuel to the fire. Beef prices continue to climb, breaking records month after month. If you're looking for a substitute, pork chops are your best bet. They've dropped almost 9% to $14.13 for 3 pounds, thanks to elevated production and higher market hog weights. Chicken prices, on the other hand, have remained stable at $7.79 for 2 pounds, as the broiler industry hasn't been as heavily impacted by Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) this year.

But the meat isn't the only thing driving up your cookout costs. Produce prices are also on the rise due to labor shortages and increasing labor costs. Strawberries will cost 8 cents more per pound, and a pitcher of lemonade will set you back nearly 20 cents more this year. Egg prices have also jumped due to HPAI outbreaks, increasing 47 cents for just four eggs. Despite these challenges, potato salad has only increased by 7 cents, thanks to a steep drop in celery prices and small reductions in potatoes and yellow onions.

So, what does all this mean for your Fourth of July cookout? Well, if you're in the West, you can expect to pay the most, with an average cost of $73.50. But don't worry, that's still over $6 less than last year. Grill masters in the Northeast will enjoy the lowest price at $63.79, while the South and Midwest will fall somewhere in between. Regardless of where you celebrate, prices are very similar to last year, changing less than $2 in the Midwest and as little as 25 cents in the Northeast.

But here's the kicker: despite these high prices, farmers and ranchers are still struggling. They receive just 15.9 cents from every dollar spent at the grocery store, and overall production expenses remain near record highs. Net farm income is expected to rise in 2025, but much of that increase is tied to disaster assistance, not stronger market returns. America has lost over 160,000 farms in the last seven years, and more continue to face pressure from high costs and low receipts.

So, as you fire up the grill and pass the lemonade this Fourth of July, remember that every meal is made possible by the hard work of America’s farmers and ranchers. Keeping their businesses strong ensures that family cookouts, and the food security they represent, remain a proud national tradition.