How has inflation impacted fireworks prices ahead of the 4th of July?

Celebrating the Fourth of July this year may cost a little less than last year, but it will still see consumers shell out more than they did before the pandemic as prices ease but remain high.

According to Julie Heckman, Executive Director of the American Pyrotechnics Association, who spoke with KFXL , the cost for fireworks first began to rise as shipping costs did.

“With the demand for all consumer goods needing to arrive in the United States via our ports, it just increased the cost of dangerous goods or hazmats being able to get here,” Heckman said.

Inflation has been present in American life for the last two years, and almost every industry has felt its impact. For example, celebrating with fireworks two summers ago cost 30% more than it did the year prior.

But now, Heckman notes that the pressures on the supply chain that helped play a role in the price hikes have dissipated, and prices are returning to a more normal level.

“It’s almost like we are getting to the pre-pandemic level in terms of where pricing was and where it should be,” Heckman said.

Compared to last summer, Heckman says that prices will be 5% to 10% more affordable as firework purveyors look to make things more affordable.

“On a certain item, if I had to go up, say, $5 on that item, I went $5 back down, so we’re back down to normal pricing for fireworks,” she said.

Even with prices falling, the American Pyrotechnics Association is still predicting it will bring in $2.4 billion in revenue this year after hitting $2.3 billion in 2022 and 2023.

An even bigger bonus, Heckman says, is that prices couldn’t be falling at a better time. She says the hope is that they stay low for at least a couple of years.

“Everybody has their eye on 2026, America’s big 250th birthday, and we think that is going to be a banner year for fireworks,” Heckman said.