July 4, 2024: How to Celebrate Independence Day
Independence Day is coming soon! Celebrate with this delicious fried chicken recipe.
The problem has been resolved
The July 4th BBQ Essential will be a little more expensive this year. In other words, they’re even planning to celebrate.
The Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute analyzed the classic costs that would gather for 10 people on July 4th, and found that consumers could expect to pay $130 for food and drinks. This is an increase of 2.2% from the cost of the same gathering a year ago. USA Today has viewed the report exclusively.
However, another survey by coupon shows that only one in three will celebrate Independence Day.
How much is a typical four days for a cookout in July?
Wells Fargo used data from Nielseniq, which tracks scanned foods at US retailers, to look at the costs of hosting the July 4th gathering.
The 10-person gathering costs $130, 2.2% more than last year, but the devil is in detail, Wells Fargo said. Beef and eggs in particular have been costing higher this year.
Priced menu includes barbecue chicken breast, beef sliders, hot dogs, fresh fruits, vegetables platters, potato salad, corn bread, cakes, apple pie, ice cream, beer, wine soda and flavoured spark water.
Here’s how these main menu items can help:
- Grilled burgers are always crowd pleasers, but the cost of ground beef has risen 7.4% last year, Wells Fargo said. Supply and demand are a problem, with American herds of cattle being one of the lowest levels since the 1950s, raising prices due to limited supply.
- Chicken has been a good food alternative this year, with boneless barbecue chicken breasts increasing by 1% due to adequate supply and reduced supply costs. “We see record-breaking affordability for chickens,” said Michael Swanson, chief agriculture economist at Wells Fargo Agri Food Institute. Swanson said poultry prices are higher than in 2020 and 2021, but if inflationary pressures raise prices sharply, they are lower than their 2022 highs. Consumers’ wages, compared to that period, “so they say, ‘If you want more on the grill, the chickens are the way to go,'” he said.
- BBQ sauces are up 2.3%, while burgers and hot dog breads are down almost 1.5% as retailers are adjusting their price downwards to stay competitive, Wells Fargo said.
What about the cost of the side dish on July 4th?
Here’s how the side dishes work:
- Many of the fresh fruits and vegetables grown in the US are in the peak summer season. Research shows that watermelons and strawberries are abundantly grown in the US, with prices down 0.6% from last year. However, vegetable plates cost more if you stock both baby carrots, which increase cauliflower and broccoli by 1.2% and carrots by 1.9%. Cherry tomatoes will be even more expensive this year, This is an increase of 3.7% from last year.
- Eggs play an important role in many menus, whether they are hardened, demons, or potato salad. Egg prices have started to ease from highs caused by the National Bird’s avian flu outbreak earlier this year, but overall prices are still 40% higher than last year, according to Wells Fargo and the May Consumer Price Index. Meanwhile, potatoes have increased by 1% from the previous year.
- If Cornbread is on the menu, shoppers should expect to pay 2.4% more this year.
- The price of the Apple Pie has risen by 1.5%, while the price of a 1.5 quart ice cream is under 1%.
- If alcohol is on the menu, beer and classic products of red, white and sparkline wines are under 2%, Wells Fargo said. Root beer and other sodas are a little more expensive than last year, with liter bottles increasing by 2%, but cheaper than buying soda in cans. Flavored sparkling water has increased by 4.7% from last year. If guests are looking for a specific imported beer and wine, and import duties can make it expensive, it might be a good idea for the host to suggest that BYOB be curbed, Swanson said.
Why not celebrate 1 in 3
Holiday Americans’ plans vary based on their age, location, and how they feel about the country in 2025.
Nearly half of the coupon follow-up survey respondents say they will not celebrate Independence Day this year because they “have not felt patriotism.”
Some respondents say that the pride of the public has declined, with 22% saying they are less patriotizing than in recent years. However, 11% said they were more patriotic, while 40% said they hadn’t changed their feelings about holidays.
The quarter said the holidays “doesn’t feel inclusive” to them. Prices are the factor for 10% of respondents who say they can’t afford to celebrate this year.
The main reason that Americans gave to celebrate on July 4th is that it brings people together and enjoys fireworks and summer events, which is tradition.
Younger generations are more likely to take part in this year’s festival. Only 31% of Gen Z and Millennials say they are opting out, while 38% of Gen X and 38% of baby boomers say they are planning to celebrate.
Holidays are the most popular in the Midwest, where only 26% of Americans are planning to skip it. At 40%, Southerners are most likely to opt out. In between there are west and northeast, with 31% saying they have no plans to celebrate.
How much is the Americans going to spend on celebrations
One in six Americans say they spend significantly less on holidays this year due to rising inflation and costs.
Clay Cary, a senior trend analyst at Coupon Follow, said USA Today’s inflation is a major reason why 2025 doesn’t seem busy with its July 4th trip. Only 9% of survey respondents are planning to leave town.
For those celebrating, the coupon estimates that Americans spend an average of $200 on travel, $100 on fireworks, $80 on food, $50 on drinks, and $40 on decorations.
Research shows that America’s most popular cost-saving measures this year include bulk shopping and using coupons, skipping decorations and hosting smaller than usual events.
