Your Fourth of July celebration will cost roughly the same as last year, but inflation is still driving up prices on many cookout favorites.
The Farm Bureau’s “Cost of Summer Cookout” this year is landing at $7.09 per person, which is down $0.30 from last year, and is the second-highest since the survey began in 2013. Some items that will cost more this year include ground beef, pork and beans, and potato salad, but some cookout staples did come down in price.
Pork chops fell nine percent, chips are $0.10 cheaper, and hamburger buns fell nearly six percent over last year.
American Farm Bureau Associate Economist Samantha Ayoub joined RFD-TV’s Suzanne Alexander to talk about how this report compares to previous years, additional highlights from the survey, and what is contributing to the numbers.
Structural efficiency supports cattle prices and resilience — breaking it risks higher costs and greater volatility.
January 13, 2026 08:00 AM
·
Rising adoption of GLP-1 drugs may gradually reshape food demand, with potential downstream effects on protein markets and consumer purchasing patterns.
January 12, 2026 02:38 PM
·
Reducing mental stress and focusing on controllable actions can improve decision-making in high-pressure environments, according to Hollywood actor and former Calif Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
January 09, 2026 03:59 PM
·
Federal nutrition policy is signaling a stronger demand for whole foods produced by U.S. farmers and ranchers. Consumer-facing guidance favors animal protein, but institutional demand may change little under existing saturated fat limits.
January 08, 2026 11:42 AM
·
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins today released the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030.
January 07, 2026 11:55 AM
Long-term demand uncertainty is reshaping specialty crop strategies as producers adapt to fewer, older consumers.
January 07, 2026 08:01 AM
·
