What Will Your 4th of July BBQ Cost You This Year?

In charge of hosting the Independence Day BBQ this year? Be prepared to spend roughly 17% more on the spread, according to a new survey. This equates to an increase of roughly $10 more than last year. The survey found that an average summer cookout for 10 people will run around $7 per person. A snapshot of average prices around the country for 4th of July staples include:

>> Ground beef (2 lb): $11.12
>> Chicken breast (2 lb): $8.99
>> Potato salad (2.5 lb): $3.25
>> Ice cream (0.5 gal): $5.16

The USDA estimates Americans will consume 750 million pounds of chicken, and 190 million pounds of beef and pork over the holiday weekend.

Farmers are feeling the pinch as price-takers, too. While farmers may be experiencing some higher prices, they aren’t covering the increase in farm expenses. Farmers still only receive approximately 8% of every food marketing dollar, and as low as 2% to 4% for highly processed foods.

Read more on summer grill-out prices.

*Survey conducted by the American Farm Bureau Federation