This year’s Fourth of July festivities have taken a hit as prices for a typical holiday BBQ have surged by 14% compared to 2021, according to data from the American Farm Bureau Federation.

Despite a dip from 2022’s record-high, the cost of a cookout serving ten people sits at $67.73, reflecting an inflationary trend linked to what is currently being termed “Bidenomics” by the White House, according to a report from Townhall.

The Bureau’s 2023 annual estimate indicates an ongoing upward trend in food price inflation that’s palpable to consumers nationwide.

The Bureau states, “As Americans prepare for a day filled with fireworks, food, and fun they will be reminded of the effects of persistent food price inflation.”

While the 2023 cost is a 3% reduction from the previous year’s peak of $69.68, the Bureau’s tracking reveals an overall price elevation compared to the first Independence Day of Biden’s tenure.

Interestingly, the cost decrease is partially due to a 9% reduction in poultry prices in contrast to 2022, which the Bureau attributes to a “decrease in avian influenza cases and the resulting recovery in layer and broiler flock populations,” Townhall notes.

Despite this, the chicken price is still 21% higher than it was in 2021.

According to the Bureau, the cost estimate includes items like cheeseburgers, chicken breasts, pork chops, potato chips, pork and beans, fresh strawberries, homemade potato salad, fresh-squeezed lemonade, chocolate chip cookies, and ice cream.

Their analysis reveals, “[h]alf of the surveyed foods decreased in average price compared to a year ago, while five increased, and one remained unchanged.”

Furthermore, from 2021, “prices for eight of the twelve food products increased over two years.”

The price tag for Independence Day cookouts also differed regionally, the Bureau added.

The West had the priciest BBQs at $74.09, followed by the South at $66.43, the Midwest at $66.14, and the Northeast provided the most economical option at $64.73.

The Bureau underscored the reality of “food price inflation” as a “constraint on the budget of all U.S. consumers,” but also highlighted the dedicated efforts of farmers and ranchers to maintain a safe and affordable food supply for the nation.

Stressing the crucial role of food security in national security, the Bureau stated, “farmers and ranchers are working hard each day to provide America with a safe and affordable food supply.”

Ending on a positive note, the Bureau encouraged Americans to remember and appreciate the farmers and ranchers who tirelessly work for the nation’s food security.

They reminded us that this labor is vital for our national security and well-being, Townhall emphasizes.

As the Bureau puts it, “[t]his Fourth of July, as you fire up the grill for your annual cookout, think of the hard work of farmers and ranchers in providing our food and the national security and well-being that go with it.”