4th of July grocery bill dips 3% from last year, Farm Bureau says

For anyone firing up the grill for Fourth of July—good news—your grocery bill for your cookout will be a bit cheaper than last year’s.

Families can expect to pay $67.73 to host an Independence Day cookout for 10 people, down 3% from 2022, according to this year’s American Farm Bureau Federation marketbasket survey.

American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF)  marketbasket survey. / Illustration: American Farm Bureau Federation

“The slight downward direction in the cost of a cookout doesn’t counter the dramatic increases we’ve seen over the past few years,” said AFBF Chief Economist Roger Cryan in a statement. “Families are still feeling the pinch of high inflation along with other factors keeping prices high.”

Last year set a record high since AFBF began the survey in 2013, and 2023 comes in as the second-highest cost.

The cookout favorites include cheeseburgers, chicken breasts, pork chops, homemade potato salad, strawberries and ice cream, among other products.

The retail price for a package of eight hamburger buns increased 17% to $2.26. Homemade potato salad will cost $3.44, up 5% from 2022. The cost of 2 pounds of ground beef rose 4% to $11.54.

“Don’t assume farmers come out as winners from higher prices at the grocery store either,” Cryan added. “They’re price takers, not price makers, whose share of the retail food dollar is just 14%. Farmers have to pay for fuel, fertilizer and other expenses, which have all gone up in cost.”

Looking to take the heat off wallet spend for the holiday, Aldi announced this week that shoppers can get their summer cookout essentials from the discount grocer for $46.86—a saving of $20.87 compared to the national average of $67.73 for 10 people.

Aldi said shoppers will see a 30.8% discount on cookout must-haves like burgers, snacks and sides. And now through July 11, 1,000 Aldi fans will have a chance to save even further with the discount grocer’s Cookout Kickback gift card, valued at $20.87.

“Summer is meant to be spent with friends and family around the grill, and we don’t want shoppers to miss out on any of the fun,” said Scott Patton, vice president of national buying, in a statement. “At Aldi, our fresh meat selection embodies quality and affordability, saving customers from getting burned at checkout, so they can host this Fourth of July without any stress on their budget.” 

Looking to sweeten its Fourth of July lineup, The Kroger Co. on Tuesday unveiled its limited edition patriotic sweet treats and desserts to enjoy in celebration of Independence Day. Items include Kroger Deluxe Limited-Edition Red, White & Blue Ice Cream and assorted patriotic cupcakes from its Bakery Fresh Goodness line.

"The Fourth of July is a time to come together to celebrate America's independence," said Tom Duncan, vice president and head of marketing for Kroger, in a statement. “No matter how you choose to celebrate, Kroger is grateful to play a part in so many gatherings to help our customer's honor the holiday."

California-based Grocery Outlet Bargain Market has launched its 13th annual Independence from Hunger campaign to kick off the upcoming mid-summer holiday. The campaign, which aims to combat food insecurity, runs through July 31. Grocery Outlet will collect cash donations and pre-made bags of nonperishable foods in-store at all its 450 locations nationwide that will then be distributed to local food agencies partners.

As shoppers stock up on their BBQ essentials like hot dogs and hamburgers, plant-based meat alternatives are seeing year-over-year growth. According to information and service provider SPINS, plant-based hamburger sales top $4.5 million and plant-based hot dogs sales are up 7.7% year over year.

In an effort to provide relief from the pain at the pump during holiday travel, Giant Eagle announced on Wednesday a fuel discount ahead of the busy Fourth of July travel weekend. The regional grocer will be offering a fuel discount at all GetGo locations to its Advantage Pay and MyPerks Pay customers through Tuesday. The deal will offer all grades of fuel for just $2.99 per gallon. 

BJ’s Wholesale Club is also offering its members gas savings for the upcoming holiday weekend. Now through Tuesday, when BJ's members spend $150 in one transaction online or in the club, they save 50 cents per gallon of gas.

Shoppers will be out in full force for their Fourth of July grocery shopping, according to new data from Chicago-based Numerator.

Ninety-four percent of consumers plan to make a purchase for Independence Day, with food items at the top of shopping lists (83% plan to purchase), followed by alcoholic beverages (47%), non-alcoholic beverages (34%), decorations (22%) and party supplies (20%).

Those celebrating Independence Day said they will buy items on sale, with 31% saying they will prepare budget-friendly foods and 27% using more coupons, according to Numerator data. Looking to find even more value, 20% of those celebrating will shop at dollar or discount stores, and 16% will switch to store/private-label brands.