GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. — This Fourth of July, Americans are feeling the financial squeeze, with rising grocery costs, inflation, and tariffs making summer celebrations significantly more expensive. A new survey from Empower reveals that 68% of Americans say barbecues are noticeably pricier to host this year, forcing many to rethink how, or even if, they’ll celebrate.
The classic backyard barbecue isn’t immune to inflation. Nearly half of Americans (49%) report that rising grocery prices have directly impacted their holiday plans, while 56% have noticed a significant increase in the cost of ingredients needed for grilling staples such as burgers, hot dogs, and sides. For many, these increases are enough to change tradition altogether: 32% of Americans, and 43% of Gen Zers and Millennials, plan to skip the grill and order pizza instead.
In addition to inflation, new tariffs are adding to the financial burden. Over half of respondents (55%) say tariffs are making Fourth of July celebrations more expensive this year. Some are opting out entirely, with 34% planning to forgo holiday festivities to save money.
Nearly 4 in 10 Americans (38%) expect to spend more this year than they did last year on Independence Day. Food tops the list, with 62% saying groceries or takeout will account for most of their spending. Others cite fireworks (28%), hosting or attending parties (25%), travel and gas (20%), and patriotic apparel (14%) as additional expenses. But for some, the rising costs are delaying bigger purchases — 43% say they’ve postponed buying a new grill due to economic concerns.
To stretch their budgets, Americans are getting creative:
- 43% are asking guests to bring food or drinks.
- 58% plan to shop holiday sales to save on essentials and big-ticket items.
- 19% are staying home to avoid travel costs.
- 15% are co-hosting events to share expenses.
Even with these adjustments, the cost-conscious mindset is clear. More than half (55%) say they set a budget for holiday celebrations, and 65% are focused on enjoying the moment while being mindful of spending.
Still, for some, the desire to celebrate outweighs the financial strain: 22% of Americans, and a striking 36% of Millennials, say they’re willing to go into debt to enjoy a full-scale holiday bash.
As inflation continues to shape household budgets, the Fourth of July is becoming less about excess and more about adjustment. Whether downsizing the guest list or trading burgers for pizza, Americans are finding ways to keep the holiday spirit alive, even if it comes at a slightly higher cost this year.
Source: Empower “July 4th Spending” survey of 2,200 U.S. adults, conducted June 21–23, 2025
