President Joe Biden has been hailing "Bidenomics," but families are experiencing the reality of paying 15% more for their July 4 cookout Tuesday, according to analysis.
Notably, after hailing a slight dip in the cost of the holiday BBQ just months after taking office — comparing post COVID-lockdown prices to those during the height of pandemic shutdowns and meat shortages, coincidentally — the White House did not issue its self-congratulatory claims of cutting costs for families this year.
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) data, which began annually in 2013, did dip slightly from record highs in 2022, but it is up 15% since the last July 4 under former President Donald Trump.
"The slight downward direction in the cost of a cookout doesn't counter the dramatic increases we've seen over the past few years," AFBF Chief Economist Roger Cryan wrote in a statement. "Families are still feeling the pinch of high inflation along with other factors keeping prices high.
"Don't assume farmers come out as winners from higher prices at the grocery store either. They're price takers, not price makers, whose share of the retail food dollar is just 14%. Farmers have to pay for fuel, fertilizer, and other expenses, which have all gone up in cost."
The AFBF list also fails to include the rising costs for non-farm items popular at July 4 gatherings: beer or alcohol up almost 13% since July, 2020, and hot dogs up 14%, according to Just the News.
And the analysis does not include regional price hikes.
"I was surprised to see that hot dogs cost so much," John DeCelle of Falls Church, Virginia, told Just the News. "Celebrating the holiday just hurts my wallet a lot more than it used to."
The AFBF data was averaged out among 240 stores in all 50 states and Puerto Rico:
- 2 pounds of ground beef, $11.54 (+4%)
- 2 pounds of chicken breasts, $8.14 (-9%)
- 3 pounds of pork chops, $14.37 (-6%)
- 1 pound of cheese, $3.53 (no change)
- 1 package of hamburger buns, $2.26 (+17%)
- 2 ½ pounds of homemade potato salad, $3.44 (+5%)
- 32 ounces of pork and beans, $2.44 (-3%)
- 16-ounce bag of potato chips, $4.53 (-4%)
- 13-ounce package of chocolate chip cookies, $3.90 (-10%)
- ½ gallon of ice cream, $5.29 (+3%)
- 2 pints of strawberries, $4.56 (+3%)
- 2½ quarts of lemonade, $3.73 (-16%)
The party of 10 pricing averages to around $7 per person, which remains one of the most cost-friendly countries in the world, according to the analysis.
"While the increased costs are difficult and have made it more challenging for some families to put food on the table, it's important to remember that America still has one of the most affordable food supplies in the world, which is due in part to strong farm bill programs," AFBF President Zippy Duvall said. "As we all celebrate the holiday, we encourage members of Congress to consider the contributions of the farm bill to our security and independence by ensuring a safe and abundant food supply."
Eric Mack ✉
Eric Mack has been a writer and editor at Newsmax since 2016. He is a 1998 Syracuse University journalism graduate and a New York Press Association award-winning writer.
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