What parts of your Fourth of July barbecue will cost more, less? We explain.

USA Today

5 hours ago

Your Fourth of July barbecue essentials are going to be slightly more expensive this year – that is, if you even plan to celebrate.
The Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute analyzed costs for hosting a classic Fourth of July gathering for 10 people and found that consumers can expect to pay $130 for the food and beverages. That's up 2.2% from the cost for the same gathering a year ago. USA TODAY got an exclusive look at the report.
But in another survey by Coupon Follow, only 1 out of 3 people plan to celebrate Independence Day at all.
How much will the typical Fourth of July cookout cost?
Wells Fargo took a look at the costs for hosting the classic Fourth of July gathering using data from NielsenIQ, which tracks food scanned at retailers across the U.S.
While the cost of $130 for a gathering of 10 people is 2.2% higher than last year, the devil is in the details, said Wells Fargo: in particular the costs of beef and eggs are higher this year.
The menu priced includes barbecued chicken breasts, beef sliders, hotdogs, fresh fruit, vegetable platter, potato salad, corn bread, cake, apple pie, ice cream, beer, wine soda and flavored sparking waters.
Here's how those main menu items fare:
How are costs for Fourth of July side dishes?
Here's how side dishes will fare:
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Why 1 in 3 don't plan to celebrate
Americans' plans for the holiday depend on their age, location, and how they're feeling about the country in 2025.
Close to half of Coupon Follow survey respondents say they won't celebrate Independence Day this year because they aren't 'feeling patriotic' and 44% said they feel 'disconnected from American culture right now.'
National pride has dropped for some respondents, with 22% saying they feel less patriotic now than they did in recent years. However, 11% said they feel more patriotic, and 40% said their feelings about the holiday have not changed.
A quarter said the holiday 'doesn't feel inclusive' to them. Price is a factor for 10% of respondents who say they can't afford to celebrate this year.
The top reasons Americans gave for celebrating on July 4 are that it brings people together, they enjoy fireworks or summer events, and it is tradition.
Younger generations are more likely to participate in this year's festivities. Only 31% of Gen Z and Millennials say they are opting out, while 38% of Gen X and 38% of Baby Boomers say they plan to sit out celebrations, the survey found.
The holiday is most popular in the Midwest, where only 26% of Americans plan to skip it. At 40%, southerners are most likely to opt out. In between is the West and Northeast, where 31% say they don't have plans to celebrate.
How much Americans plan to spend celebrating
About 1 in 6 Americans say they will spend significantly less on the holiday this year due to inflation and rising costs.
Clay Cary, senior trends analyst at Coupon Follow, told USA TODAY inflation is a large reason why 2025 appears to be a less busy year for July 4 travel. Only 9% of survey respondents plan to head out of town.
For those who are celebrating, Coupon Follow estimates Americans will spend an average of $200 on travel, $100 on fireworks, $80 on food, $50 on drinks, and $40 on decorations.
The survey found American's most popular cost-savings measures this year will include bulk shopping or using coupons, skipping decorations, and hosting a smaller event than usual.