INDIANA – Indiana residents preparing for their Fourth of July cookouts can expect to pay slightly more this year, with the average cost for a 10-person gathering reaching $71.49, or $7.15 per person. This represents a 5% increase compared to 2024, according to Indiana Farm Bureau’s (INFB) annual summer cookout market basket survey.
Indiana’s average cookout price is approximately 1%, or 6 cents, higher than the national average of $7.09 per person.
“Inflation is slowing slightly, prices are leveling out, and supply chain issues that have been prevalent for the last few years are slowly getting worked out, so we are seeing just a slight increase in prices compared to the last few years here in Indiana,” explained INFB Chief Economist Dr. Todd Davis.
The $71.49 market basket includes a variety of traditional cookout items: ground beef, cheese, hamburger buns, pork chops, chicken breasts, pork and beans, potato salad, strawberries, chips, ice cream, cookies, and lemonade.
The survey highlighted ice cream (up 31%) and strawberries (up 19%) as the items with the largest price increases, aligning with national trends. Most other items in Indiana were priced similarly to national averages, though hamburger buns and lemonade were about 8% less expensive in the state. Notably, ground beef and pork chops were found to be more affordable in Indiana this year.
| Cookout Items (INFB survey) | 2024 Indiana Costs | 2025 Indiana Costs | % Change of Indiana Costs (2024 to 2025) | % Difference between 2025 U.S. average costs and Indiana costs |
| Ground Beef (2 lbs.) | $13.88 | $13.81 | -1% | 4% |
| Cheese (1 lb.) | $3.32 | $3.53 | 6% | 0% |
| Cookies (13 oz bag) | $3.62 | $3.83 | 6% | -4% |
| Ice cream (half gallon) | $4.28 | $5.60 | 31% | -2% |
| Strawberries (2 pints) | $3.87 | $4.59 | 19% | -2% |
| Chips (16 oz bag) | $4.58 | $4.95 | 8% | 3% |
| Chicken Breast (2 lbs.) | $7.64 | $8.18 | 7% | 5% |
| Pork Chops (3 lbs.) | $15.76 | $14.57 | -8% | 3% |
| Pork and beans (32 oz) | $2.46 | $2.62 | 7% | -3% |
| Hamburger Buns (1 package) | $2.04 | $2.16 | 6% | -8% |
| Lemonade (2.5 qts.) | $3.72 | $4.05 | 9% | -7% |
| Potato Salad (2.5 lbs.) | $3.16 | $3.60 | 14% | 2% |
| AVERAGE TOTAL MEAL PRICE | $68.33 | $71.49 | 5% | 1% |
Dr. Davis advised shoppers to “look for the bargains on the protein side.” He noted that USDA data indicates more pork in cold storage, which generally translates to lower prices at the supermarket. While ground beef prices remained similar to last year, which he called “encouraging” given low cattle herd numbers nationally, he suggested consumers consider pork as an alternative.
Janis Highley, INFB 2nd Vice President, emphasized that farmers receive only 16 cents of every retail food dollar, with the majority covering processing, packaging, transportation, and distribution costs. “Farmers are price takers, not price makers – just like consumers,” Highley stated. “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.”
Despite these challenges, Indiana farmers are committed to streamlining operations to provide safe and affordable food for both Hoosiers and the global market.
The INFB survey was conducted in early June by volunteer shoppers across Indiana, who collected prices on specific food items at local grocery stores, seeking the best possible prices without using special promotions. This state-level survey was conducted in conjunction with the national survey administered by the American Farm Bureau Federation.
