Cost of July 4 Cookout Nearly Unchanged from Last Year, Says Farm Bureau; Prices Remain High, but NY Among Lowest

NY average of $5.89 per person is 20% lower than national average 

Albany, NY — Families celebrating the Fourth of July holiday continue to find high prices at the grocery store, based on the 2025 American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) annual survey. The national average of an Independence Day cookout is $70.92 for 10 guests this year, a decrease of only 30 cents from last year’s record-high cost. At $7.09 per person, 2025 will be the second-highest cost since Farm Bureau began the survey in 2013.

In New York, the average cost is $58.91, or $5.89 person, proving to be one of the lowest prices found in the survey and more than 20% lower than the national average.

The cookout favorites include cheeseburgers, chicken breasts, pork chops, homemade potato salad, strawberries and ice cream, among other products. While the survey does not include an exhaustive list of Fourth of July options, it serves as a snapshot of prices families are facing this summer.

“Inflation and lower availability of some food items continue to keep prices stubbornly high for America’s families,” said AFBF Associate Economist Samantha Ayoub. “High prices don’t mean more money for farmers, however. Farmers are price takers, not price makers. Their share of the food retail dollar is just 15%. The cost of running their farm is up, from labor and transportation to taxes.”

The AFBF survey shows an increase in the cost of beef, potato salad and canned pork and beans, while there are drops in the cost of pork chops, chips and hamburger buns.

The retail price for two pounds of ground beef increased 4.4% to a national average of $13.33 ($10.67 in New York), while the cost of three pounds of pork chops averages $14.13, down 8.8% from last year ($11.47 in New York). The cost of two pounds of chicken breasts averages $7.79 ($5.96 in New York).

A 32-ounce can of pork and beans will cost $2.69 ($3.71 in New York), up 20 cents from 2024. Homemade potato salad is up 6.6% to $3.54 ($3.77 in New York), and a 16-ounce bag of potato chips averages $4.80 ($3.90 in New York), down 2.1% from 2024. Hamburger buns are 2.6% less expensive, at $2.35 ($2.18 in New York).

Several factors influence the price increase of certain items, reflecting challenges farmers regularly face. Fewer cattle are available for processing, which is affecting supplies. Steel and aluminum tariffs mean increased prices on canned goods. The cost of eggs, used in potato salad, is still elevated, although they are much lower than record highs earlier this year as egg-laying chicken populations are recovering from avian influenza.

Meanwhile, the amount of pork available to stores is up, which is pushing prices down. The demand for potatoes has eased, helping bring down the cost of chips. Wheat prices are still much lower than record highs of three years ago, contributing to the slight decrease in the cost of buns.

Although the $7.09 per-person cost is near a historic high, when put in a global context, people in the U.S. spend a smaller percentage of their expenditures on food than in any other country.

AFBF President Zippy Duvall said, “We can celebrate America’s independence every year in part because of the hard work of the farmers and ranchers who contribute to the nation’s food independence. Farmers are dedicated to doing the right thing, and their commitment to sustainable and innovative farming practices ensures a safe and abundant food supply for every family in America.

“Farmers and ranchers achieve this, in part, through research, conservation and farm safety net programs that are made possible through a strong farm bill. We urge members of Congress to return from their holiday break and pass a new, modernized five-year farm bill. We appreciate efforts during the reconciliation process to address some issues facing agriculture, but only a new farm bill will bring the certainty farmers need to continue leading the world in agriculture.”

The federal government’s broader Consumer Price Index report for food at home shows an overall increase of 2.2% compared to a year ago. Farm Bureau’s informal July 4 survey examines only those foods commonly associated with summer cookouts.

Volunteer shoppers across the country, including Farm Bureau members, collected data from stores in every state and Puerto Rico.

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New York Farm Bureau is the state’s largest general agricultural advocacy organization. Its members and the public know the organization as “The Voice of New York Agriculture.” New York Farm Bureau is dedicated to solving the economic and public policy issues challenging the agricultural community.