Families will pay nearly the same as last year for a Fourth of July cookout, according to the American Farm Bureau’s (AFBF) 2025 marketbasket survey. 

A typical July 4 cookout for 10 people will cost $70.92 this year, down just 30 cents from last year and the second-highest cost since Farm Bureau began the survey in 2013. In the Midwest, the average cost for the same gathering is $69.87. Items surveyed include cheeseburgers, chicken breasts, pork chops, pork and beans, potato salad, strawberries, ice cream and other cookout favorites, offering a snapshot of prices families are paying at the grocery store.

“Inflation and lower availability of some food items continue to keep prices stubbornly high for America’s families,” said AFBF Associate Economist Samantha Ayoub.

The marketbasket 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. 

Several factors are behind the price increases, including tight cattle supplies for beef, tariffs on steel and aluminum influencing the cost of canned goods, and reduced egg supplies due to avian influenza. Pork prices, by contrast, have declined due to abundant supplies. 

“While tariffs can impact prices on manufactured goods like canned items, the prices of Iowa-grown commodities like pork and beef tend to reflect supply and demand cycles,” said Christopher Pudenz, Iowa Farm Bureau economist. “For example, the U.S. cattle herd remains historically low, which limits supply and continues to push ground beef prices higher.”

The average retail price for 2 pounds of ground beef — often the centerpiece of summer cookouts — increased 4.4% compared to last year, while pork and beans saw the biggest increase at 8.2%. Pork chops saw the largest price drop at 8.8%. 

High food costs continue to weigh heavily on the minds of Iowa consumers. According to Iowa Farm Bureau’s 2025 Food & Farm Index®, price continues to be the most important factor for Iowa grocery shoppers when determining which meat, poultry and dairy products to purchase.

Pudenz noted, however, that higher retail prices aren’t always reflected at the farm gate. According to USDA data, the farmers’ share of the U.S. dollar is just 15 cents while the remainder goes toward processing, packaging and transportation. 

“The Fourth of July is, of course, a celebration of our freedom but also a celebration of the American spirit, one embodied by our nation’s farmers,” Pudenz said. “Despite challenges like rising costs and weather impacts, Iowa farmers continue to do what they’ve always done — work hard, adapt and provide for American families.”

The July 4 cookout survey is part of the Farm Bureau marketbasket series, which uses volunteer shoppers to collect price data from stores in every state and Puerto Rico. More details can be found at www.fb.org.