CHICAGO (NewsNation) — This year’s Independence day cookout will cost Americans more at the grocery store.
The culprits are the same ones that have made headlines for weeks: inflation pushing up the costs of fuel, labor and fertilizer.
According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, Americans, on average, will pay about $10 more than last year for all their holiday favorites. That’s the largest single-year jump in the cost of a cookout since the Farm Bureau started tracking that data 10 years ago.
Among the most significant increases are ground beef, chicken breasts, center-cut pork chops, and pork and beans. Ground beef has risen 36% in the last year, while boneless, skinless chicken breasts and center-cut pork chops have gone up by more than 30%.
Sides are more too: pork and beans are 33% price, potato salad is up 19% and burger buns went up by 16%. Even desserts can’t escape inflation’s wrath— a half-gallon of vanilla ice cream and a 13-ounce bag of cookies together will set you back nearly 9.50 on average.
Matthew Telles, a Dumpling Professional grocery shopper, joined NewsNation’s Morning in America to share tips on how Americans can cut down on some of those food costs. He recommends creating a plan to prepare some extra time to shop at multiple stores.
“I’m seeing variance in prices still across different products, one store is going to have something for those national price averages of like 30% increases on your proteins. Whereas you’re going to find some deals at some larger markets on those same proteins,” Telles said.
Telles recommends consumers use coupon apps and stacks their coupons. Also, consider fuel points and which grocery stores will pay you for gas.
He also recommends visiting your local farmer’s market for a much higher quality of produce products versus what you may find at the grocery stores.
Lastly, visiting a butcher may help you reduce the cost you pay for meat.
“You can get the exact amount of weight that you’re looking for, so you don’t have to overbuy and you don’t have to underbuy,” Telles said. “I am seeing lower prices there because usually, they’re coming in for more local sources.”
Luckily, not everything is more expensive than it was in 2021. Strawberries are 16% cheaper, potato chips are 4% less and sliced cheese went down by $13.
