July Fourth cookout costs down for Indiana shoppers
Jun 30, 2026 | 4:30 am ET
Description
In 2026, the most expensive region was the West at $80, while the Northeast was least expensive at $71.35. The average Midwest cost, $71.45, is also slightly below the national figure. (Getty Images)
Fourth of July food should set Hoosiers back less this year than last — and be cheaper than the national average.
Indiana Farm Bureau’s annual survey of July Fourth staples for a 10-person cookout found an average total price of $66.73 this year, or $6.67 per person. That’s down from last year’s $71.49, or about $7.15 per person.
It’s also a good deal lower than the $73.82 national average, which is the most expensive cookout the American Farm Bureau Federation has ever surveyed. Adjusted for inflation, though, costs have remained relatively stable in recent years. The average Midwest cost is also slightly below the national figure.
In 2026, the most expensive region was the West at $80, while the Northeast was least expensive at $71.35. The average Midwest cost, $71.45, is also slightly below the national figure.
Todd Davis, chief economist for Indiana Farm Bureau, said that’s likely because of feed and livestock industries being centered in the region, making the path from farm to store more direct. Proteins, like ground beef and pork chops, account for much of the price of the meal and are what shoppers should search for savings on, he told the Indiana Capital Chronicle.
Those two items, along with most of the cookout products, saw cost decreases in Indiana since last year. Ice cream and potato salad, down $1.27 and $2.01, respectively, had the largest percent changes. Four of the 12 items surveyed — cookies, strawberries, chicken breast and pork and beans — saw slight price increases since last year.
Davis attributed the potato salad cost decrease to a larger potato crop and lower egg costs versus last year, when prices were impacted by bird flu. He cautioned, though, that the anecdotal survey could have different outcomes on a different day.
To get the results, Indiana Farm Bureau asks volunteer shoppers across the state to collect prices from one of their local grocery stores. In early June, they looked for the best possible prices for the items without using any special deals.
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Indianapolis, IN
