If you are shopping for July 4th cookout supplies you’ve already noticed that prices are a bit higher than last year. But how about five years ago?
Our partners at Datasembly, a company that tracks thousands of grocery prices in real-time, have provided a year-by-year price comparison, starting in 2019. That was before the COVID-19 pandemic and before inflation began to take off.
For example, 1.3 pounds of ground chuck for burgers costs $8.45 today. But in 2019 you could buy those burgers for $5.62. Doing the math, those hamburgers have increased in price by 50% – or an average of 10% per year.
But that’s not the only cookout staple that’s gotten more expensive. Fifty seven-inch disposable plates, which cost $2.76 in 2019 today costs $4.97, an increase of 98%.
How about a 12-pack of soda? In 2019 you could buy it for $5.17. Now? $9.18, an increase of 77.5%.
A package of 16 beef hot dogs cost $7.62 five years ago but now sells for $10.30, a 35% increase. Fortunately, a few things on the menu haven’t gone up as much.
A 14 oz. jar of mustard cost $1.97 in 2019 but will only set you back $2.12 today, an increase of only 7.6% A package of 30 plastic cups costs 10% more than five years ago.
While it’s true that inflation has slowed, it doesn’t mean that prices have gone down. Check out the complete five-year price comparison in the chart below.
Five-year price comparison
Item Description | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Ground Beef Chuck Burgers 1.33 lbs (4 ct) | 8.45 | 7.32 | $6.98 |
| 7.68 | 5.62 |
Beef hot dogs, 16 ct | 10.3 | 9.42 | 9.71 | 8.63 | 6.98 | 7.62 |
Hamburger buns 8 ct | $3.22 | 3.22 | 2.89 | 3.29 | 2.56 | $2.59 |
Hot dog buns 8 ct | $3.28 | 3.27 | $2.89 | 3.33 | 2.56 | 2.61 |
Baked beans, 16oz | $2.38 | $2.29 | $2.28 | $1.79 | $1.75 | $1.71 |
Soda, 12 pack | $9.18 | $8.12 | $6.77 | $5.53 | $5.34 | $5.17 |
Disposable plates, 7 inch 50 ct | $4.97 | $4.39 | $3.34 | $3.74 | $2.48 | $2.76 |
Sweet relish, 12.7oz bottle | $3.53 |
|
| $2.51 | $2.28 | $2.28 |
Tomato ketchup 20oz | $3.87 | $3.82 |
| $2.91 | $2.61 | $2.54 |
Yellow mustard, 14 oz | $2.12 | $2.12 | $2.59 | $2.21 | $1.96 | $1.97 |
Mayonnaise, 12oz | $4.86 | $4.84 | $3.46 | $3.30 | $2.90 | $2.83 |
American Cheese - 24ct | $5.64 | $5.44 | $5.47 | $6.39 | $4.80 | $4.90 |
Plastic cups, 30 ct | $5.71 | $5.64 | $4.87 | $4.03 | $3.68 | $5.19 |