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.
Lower Prices for Some Items
Potato salad saw the largest price drop, falling 56% compared to last year, largely tied to lower egg prices. However, some items were more expensive than in 2025, including chicken breast, pork and beans, strawberries, and cookies.
Indiana Farm Bureau Chief Economist Dr. Todd Davis said, “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%.”
Farmers Manage Rising Production 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.”
Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.
