Cookout cost down slightly

The cost of a summer cookout this year is down slightly from the record high in 2022, according to the annual survey from the American Farm Bureau Federation, released prior to the Fourth of July.

Families will pay $67.73 to host a Fourth of July cookout with friends and family. This includes a package of hamburger buns for $2.26, a pound of cheese for $3.53, two pounds of ground beef at $11.54, a package of cookies at $3.90, a half-gallon of ice cream at $5.29, strawberries for $4.56, 16-ounce bag of chips for $4.53, two pounds of chicken breast at $8.14, three pounds of pork chops for $14.37, 32-ounce can of pork and beans for $2.44, lemonade for $3.73 and over two pounds of potato salad for $3.44.

AFBF’s chief economist says high inflation and other factors are still keeping prices high and families are still feeling the pinch. The marketbasket survey indicated a year-to-year increase in the cost of beef, potato salad and hamburger buns with a drop in the cost of lemonade, chicken breasts and cookies.