The Lead Off
- Indiana shoppers are seeing lower grocery costs for a Fourth of July cookout compared to last year, according to Indiana Farm Bureau data.
- The average cookout cost in Indiana fell 7%, coming in below the national average.
- Several staple items, including ice cream and ground beef, saw notable price decreases.
(INDIANAPOLIS) IND. (WOWO) Hoosiers preparing for Fourth of July cookouts may see slightly lower grocery prices this year compared to 2025, according to new data from Indiana Farm Bureau.
The organization’s annual summer cookout market basket shows the average cost of feeding 10 people in Indiana is $66.73, or about $6.67 per person, marking a 7% decrease from last year.
Indiana prices fall below national average
The report found Indiana’s cookout costs remain below the national average, which is $7.38 per person.
Indiana’s average is approximately 10% lower than the U.S. figure, while also tracking slightly below broader Midwest regional pricing trends.
“I was pleasantly surprised by the prices our shoppers were able to find in Indiana this year because the national Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food at home has increased about 2.9%,” said INFB Chief Economist Dr. Todd Davis. “It’s important to remember, though, that this data is just a snapshot of what consumers are paying at the grocery store on any given day.”
Grocery basket includes classic cookout items
The market basket includes common summer cookout foods such as:
- Ground beef
- Cheese and hamburger buns
- Pork chops and chicken breasts
- Pork and beans
- Potato salad
- Strawberries
- Chips, cookies, ice cream, and lemonade
Indiana Farm Bureau said potato salad saw the largest price drop, falling 56% compared to last year, largely tied to lower egg prices.
Some items see increases despite overall decline
While the total cost decreased, some items were more expensive than in 2025, including chicken breast, pork and beans, strawberries, and cookies.
Officials said protein prices remain a key driver of overall cookout costs.
“The protein side of the market basket is where you should shop around for deals since those make up about 54% of the total cost,” Davis said.
Food supply chain share highlighted
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, farmers receive about 11.8 cents of every retail food dollar, with the remainder going toward processing, packaging, transportation, and retail costs.
Indiana Farm Bureau President Randy Kron said farmers continue working to manage rising production costs.
“Farmers are price takers, not price makers – just like consumers,” Kron said. “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.”
Next steps
Indiana Farm Bureau officials say they will continue monitoring food pricing trends throughout the summer, with additional updates expected as part of ongoing national and state-level market basket surveys conducted in coordination with the American Farm Bureau Federation.
