Memorial Day cookouts are hit by sticker shock as inflation makes family holiday more expensive than ever

On Memorial Day barbecues, Americans will consume an average of 10 percent more than last year, startling statistics show.

The new numbers from Virginia Data collection shows the effect of inflation on the holiday, which usually consists of outdoor cooking.

Like clockwork, tens of millions of people travel every year with the intention of grilling or roasting, and more than 22 million people are expected to participate this time.

Despite mainstays being generally cheap, the average cost of barbecues this year will set partygoers back around $30.18, the company noted – before naming some of the prime suspects.

It also released data points on individual items such as burgers and sandwiches, both of which are also up from last year – with some of the increases topped at almost 50 percent.

Tens of millions travel for the holidays every year with the intention of grilling or roasting, and more than 22 million people are expected to participate this time

Here’s a complete overview before you start cooking.

Citizens increased from $7.04 in 2023 to $8.07 in 2024, according to Datasembly, which tracks the cost of groceries in the U.S. per week.

That represents a 14.63 percent change in total costs – well above the country’s inflation rate of 3.36 percent.

Hamburger buns, which go hand-in-hand with the above, will cost a slightly more forgiving two cents extra, from $3.04 to $3.06.

Those who prefer hot dogs, meanwhile, will be happy to know that there has been no change in costs, despite rising three percent last year to an average of $3.44 per pack.

However, the delicious bread bouquets that house them have risen at the same rate as their hamburger counterpart: almost one percent of the $3.06 they cost last year.

The condiments that usually adorn both have increased even more, with a 32 oz bottle of ketchup now costing $5.53 from $5.43, and mustard up to $2.61 from $2.53.

But it was another topping that scored the biggest increase – one that makes the others seem like a small change.

Despite mainstays being generally cheap, the average cost of barbecues this year will set revelers back around $30.18, the company found – before pointing out some of the prime suspects

Citizens increased from $7.04 in 2023 to $8.07 in 2024, according to Datasembly, which tracks the cost of groceries in the U.S. per week

Meanwhile, it was just one topping that scored the biggest increase – one that makes the others seem like a small change. In the photo a portion of dill pickle sauce, which is now almost 50 percent more expensive than last year

Those who prefer hot dogs, meanwhile, will be happy to know that there has been no change in the price of francs, despite rising three percent last year to an average of $3.44 per pack

That would be none other than Relish, who led the price increases with a price increase of almost 50 percent – ​​from $3.14 to $4.67.

Other tried products saw more of the same, leading to an overall price increase of 10.19 percent, Dataassembly found.

Meat, a major day of remembrance, is driving most of the increases, a central Illinois processing manager told CIProud.com on Friday, as millions of Americans are poised to hit the grocery stores to get their hands on their spread.

“We’re trying to give everyone a good opportunity to get something to eat, something to grill and something to feed their family,” Raber’s Packing Company Processing Manager Will Vaughn told the station.

‘We make a lot of meat bundles where we offer a discount if you buy more. Prices have definitely gone up, but we’re trying to keep it less painful.”

The summer months are typically the busiest for the meatpacking industry, with Memorial Day taking center stage.

Nearly 44 million Americans are predicted to travel during the holidays, while 52 percent plan to barbecue, Dataassembly found.

Meanwhile, according to the Federal Reserve, the pace of inflation continues to slow slightly.