This year’s American Farm Bureau Fourth of July market basket survey looked at the average costs of summer cookout staples — from fixings needed to feast on cheeseburgers to chicken breasts, pork chops, potato chips, pork and beans, fresh strawberries, homemade potato salad, fresh-squeezed lemonade, chocolate chip cookies and ice cream.
For a gathering of 10 people, the survey found that revelers will be set back $71.22 this year, up 5 percent from last year and up 30 percent from five years ago.
The figure has topped $7 per person for the first time ever.
The Independence Day grocery bill is in line with the increased inflation that has hit consumers over the past year.
The Farm Bureau’s experts estimate that 2 pounds of ground beef will cost an average of $12.77, an increase of about a dollar, or 11 percent, from last year. That comes despite the number of fed cattle in the supply chain this spring being higher than last year.
The Hill’s Elizabeth Crisp has more here.
