Survey: Common items for cookouts rise in price ahead of Fourth of July

TYLER, Texas ( KETK ) – With the Fourth of July approaching, many East Texans may be planning to celebrate with a backyard cookout. However, the American Farm Bureau’s market survey reported that inflation is hitting backyard celebrations heavily this year.

“The cost of a summer cookout meal for 10 people is about $71.22 or about $7.12 cents a person,” Bernt Nelson, economist for The American Farm Bureau Federation, said.

The federation has been conducting a Fourth of July market survey annually since 2013.

“By volunteer shoppers across the county including farm bureau members and many others, we collect data from stores in every state and Puerto Rico,” Nelson said.

The Drug Emporium in Tyler expects to be busy leading up to Thursday’s holiday.

“A lot of people are out shopping and just enjoying being out with family so we’re going to be probably pretty busy on selling sodas just and of the miscellaneous stuff that you would buy for barbeque,” Lynette Duncan, Drug Emporium assistant manager, said.

The survey is finding that cookout staples are seeing an increase in pricing.

“The price of ground beef is up 11% and in lemonade up 12%,” Nelson said.

The survey also shows increases in ice cream, hamburger buns, and cookies. But shoppers can find ways to save.

“I know a lot of shoppers do shop in different stores that actually they can afford and they look at sale prices as opposed to everyday prices and that will help the cost and how inflation has hit the economy,” Duncan said.

The American Farm Bureau Federation explained that grocery stores put together sales the closer we approach a holiday. So, watch sales before you make this year’s cookout purchase.

“You can kind of watch two different stores to see the different items that they have on their lineup. And that is one way that consumers can be more budget-friendly,” Nelson said.

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