According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the average Fourth of July cookout will cost just under 70 BUCKS this year . . . a full $10 more than it cost in 2021.

The average is $69.68, up from $59.50 last year.  That’s still only $7 per person, but an increase of 17%.  (It was $59.66 in 2020, and $54.88 in 2019.)

They base it on 12 different things you might serve at a backyard barbecue for 10 people WITHOUT including beer or alcohol.

The biggest jump this year was the price of ground beef, up 36%.  Here’s a rundown of what everything costs . . .

Two pounds of ground beef for burgers, $11.12 . . . two pounds of chicken breasts, $8.99 . . . and three pounds of pork chops, $15.26.

Hamburger buns, $1.93 . . . cheese, $3.53 . . . chips, $4.71 . . . two-and-a-half pounds of potato salad, $3.27 . . . pork-and-beans, $2.53 . . . two pints of strawberries, $4.44 . . . and some lemonade, $4.43.  Then for dessert, some cookies, $4.31 . . . and a half-gallon of ice cream, $5.16.