Fewer Americans will host cookouts this Independence Day. Here's why

About 86% of Americans said they plan to celebrate the holiday this year.

About 86% of Americans said they plan to celebrate the holiday this year.

Some of the trends we're seeing this year with consumers and 4th of July is that the holiday is just as popular as it's ever been. In fact, Independence Day is the 2nd most popular holiday in the US following the winter holidays, and consumers are planning cookouts, they're going to fireworks displays, having picnics, and heading to parades. We are seeing this year that on average consumers are spending about what they spent last year, slightly more, $92 compared to $90 specifically on food and other items for their cookouts and barbecues. However, consumers total spending on these items is about. 8.9 billion compared to over $9 billion last year, 9.4 billion. The reason we see this difference between per person spending and total spending is that fewer people overall are planning these cookouts and barbecues, about 61% compared to 66% last year. We do believe this holiday remains as popular as ever, even if some of the individual ways consumers might be celebrating might be changing compared to previous years. We also know that the reason people celebrate is because they love the fun and the social aspects of the holiday, as well as the patriotic meaning that it has for many Americans.

Updated: 1:14 PM CDT Jul 1, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Fewer Americans will host cookouts this Independence Day. Here's why

About 86% of Americans said they plan to celebrate the holiday this year.

Updated: 1:14 PM CDT Jul 1, 2025

Editorial Standards ⓘ

Fewer Americans will host a barbecue, cookout, picnic or other food-related event this Independence Day, according to an annual survey done by the National Retail Federation alongside Proper Insights & Analytics. Last year, 66% of Americans planned on hosting food-related events, but this year, that number dropped to 61%.Some of this shift may be due to the uncertainty around rising costs, causing consumers to pull back on pricier aspects of the holiday, said Katherine Cullen, vice president of industry and consumer insights at NRF.On average, consumers will spend $92.44 on food items for the holiday, slightly up from last year. The NRF’s annual survey polled about 8,000 adults on their Fourth of July spending plans and celebration expectations.The decrease in planned food-related events is reducing the total amount that celebrants will spend this year.In total, consumers will spend $8.9 billion on food items for July 4, a 5.3% decline from last year. It's now the second consecutive year total spending for the holiday took a dip. But even with food prices rising, the holiday still remains popular. About 86% of Americans said they plan to celebrate the holiday this year, making it the second most popular holiday, behind the winter holidays, said Cullen.PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=

WASHINGTON —

Fewer Americans will host a barbecue, cookout, picnic or other food-related event this Independence Day, according to an annual survey done by the .

Last year, 66% of Americans planned on hosting food-related events, but this year, that number dropped to 61%.

Some of this shift may be due to the uncertainty around rising costs, causing consumers to pull back on pricier aspects of the holiday, said Katherine Cullen, vice president of industry and consumer insights at NRF.

On average, consumers will spend $92.44 on food items for the holiday, slightly up from last year.

The NRF’s annual survey polled about 8,000 adults on their Fourth of July spending plans and celebration expectations.

The decrease in planned food-related events is reducing the total amount that celebrants will spend this year.

In total, consumers will spend $8.9 billion on food items for July 4, a 5.3% decline from last year. It's now the second consecutive year total spending for the holiday took a dip.

But even with food prices rising, the holiday still remains popular.

About 86% of Americans said they plan to celebrate the holiday this year, making it the second most popular holiday, behind the winter holidays, said Cullen.

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