The Cost Of: Fourth of July

Marshal Cohen, the chief retail analyst at Circana, says this year there will be an increases when it comes to barbecuing, party décor and other festivities.  

Tara Joyce

Jun 30, 2025, 10:40 AM

Updated 8 hr ago

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From the parades that fill the streets, to the fireworks that fill the sky, this year Fourth of July celebrations will be booming and so will the cost of hosting them. 
Marshal Cohen, the chief retail analyst at Circana, says this year there will be an increases when it comes to barbecuing, party décor and other festivities.  
Still, you can’t skimp on America’s birthday and decking your home in red, white and blue is a great place to start. 
“Sets that include the plates, the clubs, the napkins, and even banner decorations, including the tablecloth run from about $18 to $24, and they serve about 25 people,” said Cohen. 
If you plan to fire up the grill, make sure you have the right supplies. Cohen says a bag of charcoal will run you around $14, but you can spend much more on the flavored kind. If your grill is propane, plan to spend around $24 to refill your tank. 
As for what is going on top of it, food prices are up. 
“Ground beef runs on average in our area is $5 to $7 per pound. A great ribeye steak, great on the grill, $12 to $15 per pound.” 
Once dinner is done, it is time to send the day out with a bang. According to Cohen it’s the location of the firework display that really dictates the dollars spent.  
“In some cases, you can walk towards the facility, carry a beach chair, go for free,” said Cohen. “When you have to park for some of these, they charge between ten and $15 per car.” 
Remember to leave the show to the pros as fines or injury are a cost no one wants to account for.