Monday 20 June 2022 11:22 PM Americans can expect to pay 17% more for their Fourth of July BBQ trends now
Americans preparing to celebrate the Fourth of July holiday can expect to fork over even more money with the average price of a traditional cookout costing at least 17 percent more than it did in 2021.
Prices for all the BBQ staples, including burgers, hot dogs, chicken, have gone up and could cost $76.94 for the average cookout for a family of four, according to the Consumer Price Index compiled by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The price is more than 17 percent from last year's total of $65.46.
Phil Lempert, editor of trade publication SupermarketGuru.com and a food industry analyst, told the New York Post that he attribute the skyrocketing prices to four issues: climate change; labor shortages on farms, in supermarkets and in the trucking industry; rising diesel prices; and the war in Ukraine.
'The biggest price increase we're seeing is on beef, pork, chicken, eggs and milk,' Lempert told The Post. Shoppers looking for a break shouldn't hold their breath.
'The prices are going to continue to go up,' he said. 'It's not going to settle down for probably another 12 months, until we can really fix the supply chain issues; fix the transportation problems and get the climate under control.'
Hot dogs are now up 37.37 percent a pound from 2021, rising from $3.80 to $5.22. Chicken is up 27.89 percent and soda is up 16.56 percent.
Last year, the White House sparked outrage by claiming that July 4 cookouts will be cheaper despite inflation rising to its highest level in 13 years.
President Biden said Monday that he will decide by the end of the week whether to order a holiday on the federal gasoline tax, possibly saving U.S. consumers as much as 18.4 cents a gallon. Pictured: Biden with his granddaughter Natalie Biden, left, and his daughter Ashley Biden, right, at Rehoboth Beach
However, social media users were quick to point out that the promoted savings amounted to a meager 16 cents, prompting accusations that the White House was out-of-touch.
'Planning a cookout this year?' the tweet read. 'Ketchup on the news. According to the Farm Bureau, the cost of a 4th of July BBQ is down from last year.
'It's a fact you must-hear(d). Hot dog, the Biden economic plan is working. And that's something we can all relish.'
The tweet was accompanied by a GIF laying out the price change for select food items.
President Biden
