Whether you call it a "cookout", "grilling",  or a "barbeque", cooking over an outside fire with family and friends on Independence Day is an American tradition. Every year the American Farm Bureau tracks how much the July 4th Cookout family gettogether is going to cost and it's no surprise that the cost is up this year. But what may be a surprise is how much it is up! According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), annual inflation is 8.6%. But according to the Farm Bureau survey the cost of your July 4th Cookout will cost you 17% more in 2022. It is always nice when we can get some independent data on prices. Every year Farm Bureau enlists volunteers from around the country to … [Read more...]