In 2024, hosting a 10-person barbecue on the Fourth of July will cost $99, the highest on record. Over the past five years, a series of macro factors have catapulted prices higher, weighing on their wallets and testing their endurance. These hurdles included geopolitical crisis, severe drought, higher restaurant overhead and wages, rising interest rates and higher inflation throughout the supply chain. “The consumer is waving the white flag on food inflation,” said Tom Bailey, senior consumer foods analyst at Rabobank. Rationale and methodologyThe Rabobank Barbecue Index assumes an average American BBQ situation—a mix of family and friends—on Fourth of July weekend.