By Andi Anderson
Indiana shoppers may see some relief in food expenses this 4th of July season, as new data shows a decrease in cookout costs compared to last year. According to a survey conducted by Indiana Farm Bureau, the average cost of a summer cookout for 10 people is $66.73, or about $6.67 per person. This marks a 7% decrease from last year’s prices.
The state’s cookout cost is also about 10% lower than the national average, which is $7.38 per person. Similar trends are seen across the Midwest, where prices remain slightly below the national level. This brings positive news to families planning holiday celebrations.
“I was pleasantly surprised by the prices our shoppers were able to find in Indiana this year because the national Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food at home has increased about 2.9%,” explained INFB Chief Economist Dr. Todd Davis. “It’s important to remember, though, that this data is just a snapshot of what consumers are paying at the grocery store on any given day.”
The market basket includes popular cookout items such as ground beef, pork chops, chicken breasts, potato salad, chips, ice cream, cookies, strawberries, and lemonade. Among these, potato salad recorded the biggest price drop of 56%, mainly due to a fall in egg prices. Eggs were unusually expensive last year because of avian influenza, but prices have now returned to normal levels.
“Egg prices were way above average this time last year, mostly likely due to the impacts of avian influenza, so those prices are now back to normal and even a bit lower than the national average,” noted Davis. “The protein side of the market basket is where you should shop around for deals since those make up about 54% of the total cost.”
Interestingly, shoppers found lower prices for key protein items like pork chops and ground beef. These reductions played an important role in lowering overall costs. However, some items, such as cookies, strawberries, pork and beans, and chicken breasts, were slightly more expensive this year.
The report also highlights that farmers receive only a small portion of the total food cost. According to the USDA, just 11.8 cents of every dollar spent on food goes to farmers, while the rest covers processing, packaging, transport, and retail services.
“Farmers are price takers, not price makers – just like consumers,” said Randy Kron, INFB President. “Margins are still tight for farmers due to high supply costs because the amount farmers are being paid isn’t covering that increase in expenses.
But Indiana farmers are committed to streamlining their operations to decrease costs of production as best they can, all while providing safe, affordable food not just for Hoosiers, but for families all over the world.”
The survey was conducted in early June by volunteer shoppers who collected prices from local grocery stores. They focused on finding the best available prices without using special promotions, ensuring a fair reflection of everyday costs.
Photo Credit: pexels-julia-m-cameron
Categories: Indiana, Business