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According to the 2023 American Farm Bureau Federation market
basket survey, families in Illinois will pay $66.92 to host an
Independence Day cookout for 10 people. That is significantly
more than two years ago, but slightly lower from record highs in
2022 when inflation was running rampant.
Volunteer shoppers across the country, including Farm Bureau
members and others, collected data from 240 different stores in
every state and Puerto Rico.
DeAnne Bloomberg, director of issue management with the Illinois
Farm Bureau, said one cookout staple costs more this year partly
because of weather.
“There are several factors, but remember that drought conditions
have been occurring in the West, and so that contributed to the
cost of feed, and reduced the number of cows driving up beef
prices,” Bloomberg said.
The price of ground beef is 4% higher this year, while the
prices for chicken breasts (-9%) and pork chops (-6%) are lower
this year than in 2022.
Making the biggest jump in price are hamburger buns, which are
17% more expensive this year. The biggest drop in price is for
lemonade, which is down 16%.
Although historically high, the cost of the cookout breaks down
to less than $7 per person.
“The United States is fortunate that we still have the most
affordable food supply in the world,” Bloomberg said.
The federal government’s broader Consumer Price Index report for
food at home shows an overall increase of 5.8% compared to a
year ago.
“Families in Illinois and across America are struggling with
higher prices at the grocery store, and farmers are no
exception,” said Illinois Farm Bureau President Richard Guebert
Jr. “That’s why the Illinois Farm Bureau continues working with
our legislators on passing the 2023 farm bill, which includes
necessary programs to secure our domestic food supply and
nutritional programs to ensure the most vulnerable have access
to healthy, affordable food.
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