on May 21st, 2008The cost of a cookout in 2008
We have a long holiday weekend coming up in the US for Memorial Day and it’s the unofficial start of grilling season with millions of cookouts planned. But they’re going to cost more this year. My country, like many others, is enduring higher food prices and the government says it’s going to get worse.
Last year food prices rose an average 4%, the worst food inflation in two decades. Two days ago the Agriculture Department raised its forecast for next year by half a percentage point, to a range of 4.5 to 5.5%.
But for many, a summertime holiday wouldn’t be the same without a barbecue or cookout, even when the belt is already tightened. MSNBC compared last year’s average prices to this year’s for typical cookout items from paper plates to potato chips. Click on the thumbnail to see the full list enlarged.
What jumps out are the prices for burger and hot dog buns, up 16.7% and 14.5% respectively. This is not surprising, given the skyrocketing price of wheat; 5-pound sacks of national-brand flour are near $3 now, an increase of about 15%.
Snacks are never cheap, but a one-pound bag of chips is up by 12%. Anyone who buys milk knows those prices have risen significantly, so the 4% rise for American cheese is expected. If you’re a mustard fan, you get a break over ketchup fans like me. The yellow stuff is up by an average 2.1%, while ketchup prices are 8% higher than a year ago.
Cooking the food will cost more too. MSNBC found charcoal 1.4% higher, lighter fluid 3.4% more and propane up by 8%. However, that increase is for the 16.4 ounce cartridge used with small tabletop grills. Most people with gas grills use the 17-pound cylinder. I checked around locally and found the going rate for those is about $20 if an empty cylinder is traded in. Last year the price was around $18, so it’s 11% more for the summer of 2008.
Ground beef prices are up just a little but absent from the list are chicken and pork. Those prices have generally held steady, especially sale prices — I can still find skinless, boneless breasts on sale for $1.99 per pound — but that’s expected to change as poultry and pork producers feel the effects of higher feed and fuel costs.
The MSNBC article is here and please check out my poultry archive for many recipes suitable for grilling.
Copyright (C) 2008 From Scratch All Rights Reserved
Sphere: Related Content
glad i dont pay for my food
kaylee’s last blog post..JON LESTER
Oh, Kaylee, I’m so glad your sense of humor is returning!
Ohhh, that’s a bit depressing, ella. Although really the only grillin’ picnic I usually attend is for Independence Day. It’s hot as heck here then, but the tradition keeps it going. Otherwise, as we have about 7 months of summer in these parts, the novelty soon wears off. I’ll just stay indoors…and eat my gruel…or have gruel prices gone up too?
MusEditions’s last blog post..Are we spacey or just universal?
The grilling season has started here in Germany too and it is really great. Unfortunately I have to stay at home and read books for my final exams. I hope that you will have a great summer and that you can propose some good food for this summer. thanks unnikuttan.
Every trip to the market is depressing for me nowadays, Muse. If I didn’t know how to cook, I’d be in trouble.
Betcha by Independence Day those prices will be higher yet. Sigh…
Hello unnikuttan - I fished you out of the spam queue. Sorry, I don’t know why you ended up there.
Your blog is interesting - thanks for the translator because your English is way better than my German. I hope you have a great summer too and good luck on those finals!
hi ella, yes, kinda like ‘big oil’…. seems a certain inevitability when ‘big agribusiness’ set their sights … it soon becomes all about ‘profit’, not ’sustainability’ or even ‘moral’. Something has to ‘give’ soon, overall, ‘cuz blatant all out ‘capitalism’ just CONSUMES too much at the expense of everything/everyone else … North Americans have got to UNDERSTAND this before change will occur. Stock market manipulations are much the culprit here, not ‘growing conditions’. Thailand/Phillipines are making a killing at the moment exporting rice, but off the backside of their own people … In the meantime, if you want to assist in the movement away from ‘agri-business’, buy local. Go to your local farmer/produce market and pick it up fresh. Small family farms have been the thorn in the side of Monsanto and their kin for years …
Next up, the pharmaceutical business. What a scam that whole things is.
Billions pumped into synthetic drugs to prevent us from ‘feeling’ & ‘thinking’. When really, if we just ate right, did some exercise, and lived by the ‘golden rule’ - ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ … Life would be a whole lot better for most.
at this end, bbq’ing is a tad early yet … though the sun is blazing, and spring is still springing, trees are floral, lilacs are JUST blooming in all their glory … We had Victoria Day last weekend, an ‘British Empire’ remnant holiday in tribute to yup, Queen Victoria … even so, nice to get an extra day to just ENJOY this old planet …
Keep cookin’ cookie.
canadada’s last blog post..Memory’s Promise ? (another poem)
G’morning! I think sustainability and buying locally is so important and benefits all involved. I’ve written about it and have been delighted to find so many like-minded people. It’s frustrating to be in an area with such a short growing season. Most farmers’ markets won’t open for another month, although a few small ones are scattered here and there with limited offerings.
I knew it was Victoria Day but never knew exactly what it commemorated; the obvious explanation seemed, well, too obvious, so thanks for clearing that up!
Plan a cookout for Canada Day! Oh, Canada…
p.s. you might find this interesting/useful … http://usc-canada.org/
Best, c
canadada’s last blog post..Memory’s Promise ? (another poem)
Interesting stuf there. Thanks!