Fourth of July barbeque prices are rising, congressional analysis says

Americans may spend more on common barbeque items this Fourth of July with prices on products like beer, outdoor folding chairs and grill tools higher, according to a new congressional report.

The total cost of a typical grocery trip for a cookout has increased by a 12.7% annualized rate since President Donald Trump‘s sweeping tariff announcement in April, according to the analysis by the Joint Economic Committee’s Democratic minority arm. It calculated the price increase using consumer price index data for the most popular food and beverage items for a 10-person summer cookout.

The minority analysis found that a six-pack of bottled lite domestic beer from Miller Lite and Coors Light increased by more than 13% each since the April tariff announcement. The analysis looked at Walmart to find the most popular products and tracked their prices from April 1 to June 26 using price checking website AisleGopher.

For imported beers, the minority analysis found a 10.5% price increase for bottles of Peroni Nastro Azzurro and a 9.5% increase for Modelo Especial bottles.

In April, Trump announced 25% tariffs on beer imports and empty aluminum cans. In early June, his administration hiked tariffs on imported aluminum to 50%.

Some beer brands, including Modelo owner Constellation Brands, have said higher aluminum costs have weighed on margins.

The analysis also found price increases for key cookout gear by tracking popular listings on Amazon using price-checking websites Keepa.com and Camelcamelcamel.com.

Since April 1, Amazon listings for a Coleman foldable camping chair increased 47.7% and a 25-piece griddle accessories kit increased 17.7%, according to the report.

Other products saw more modest increases. A Banana Boat sunscreen rose 8.1%, Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil rose 6.9%, a Weber propane grill increased 5% and a multi-pack of disposable plates and utensils rose 3.3%, the report said.

A separate May report from Rabobank, a global food and agribusiness bank, found that the cost of a 10-person barbeque rose 4.2% this year and will hit $100 for the first time ever. Its barbeque index highlighted higher beef prices as a contributing factor.