Careful, that July 4 backyard barbecue can burn a hole in your pocket.
The cost of feeding four adults has climbed to an estimated $61.16 this year, up from $54.62 in 2010, according to Mary Ann Milbourn in theOrange County Register. She's drawn her market basket total from the National Retail Federation/BIGresearch Independence Day survey.
"This year’s biggest cost of barbecuing is for charcoal, which has rocketed from $3.09 in 2010 to $7.41 this year, a whopping 140%. And lighter fluid is up 22%," she writes.
Any you may want to skimp on the condements since the price of both ketchup and mayonnaise is up 31% since last year.
But a few essentials are cheaper, she reports. You’ll save 10 cents on hot dogs and 87 cents on hot dog and hamburger buns.
“Consumers are looking forward to celebrating the Fourth of July with family and friends, but they probably won’t be happy about having to spend more on groceries for a quintessential American holiday,” Milbourn quotes Pam Goodfellow, BIGresearch consumer insights director. “Rising food costs are forcing consumers to spend more on the necessities and in turn, pressuring them to make more practical purchases in areas such as apparel, dining out and vacations.”
Here’s the BIGresearch market basket survey’:
Cost of a 4th of July barbecue
Item20102011 Hamburger patties (2-lbs) $5.38 $6.18 Hot dogs $2.91 $2.81 American cheese $2.40 $2.76 Hamburger buns $1.96 $1.09 Hot dog buns $1.96 $1.09 Lettuce $0.99 $1.37 Onions (0.5 lbs) $0.60 $0.48 Relish $1.38 $1.27 Tomatoes (1 lb) $1.52 $1.58 Chip dip $1.68 $1.69 Potato chips $2.56 $2.75 Ketchup $1.50 $1.96 Mayo $2.57 $3.36 Mustard $1.58 $1.45 Pop (12-pack) $2.81 $2.91 Beer (12-pack) $9.49 $9.99 Popsicles $2.99 $3.44 Watermelon $4.66 $4.40 Charcoal $3.09 $7.41 Lighter fluid $2.62 $3.19 TOTAL $54.62 $61.16Source: Orange County Register
