Cost of Grilling Groceries Rises Year Over Year
Grilling with friends and family may cost more this year as the price of a typical basket of Labor Day BBQ groceries has increased by 3.56% from 2022 – 2023. This, according to new data from ecommerce accelerator, Pattern.
Why it matters: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) most recently reported inflation rose by 3.2% for major categories of goods during the last year. Consumers looking to save money during Labor Day should watch out for the groceries highlighted below, which have risen in price beyond that 3.2% benchmark.
What we’re seeing: Our team analyzed pricing data on Amazon U.S. Marketplace during every day of 2022 and 2023 so far to understand what consumers can expect during their Labor Day preparations this year. Overall, the cost of a typical basket of grilling goods increased by 3.56% with the following items showing the largest price increases over the 3.2% U.S. BLS benchmark:
- The cost of Mayonnaise increased by 16.06% from 2022 – 2023
- Potato Chips +12.30%
- Soda +4.91%
- Ketchup +4.70%
- American Cheese +4.23%
- Hamburgers +3.86%
- Lettuce +3.62%
However: There are some BBQ items that have experienced inflation reversal from 2022 – 2023. Consumers planning on grilling for the holiday may want to consider stocking up on the following:
- The cost of Hot Dogs decreased by -2.60% from 2022 – 2023
- Tomato -1.75%
- Mustard -1.61%
BBQ prices aren’t the only thing taking a hike: Consumers looking to save money on their holiday celebrations might want to ditch the grill in place for a camping trip. According to our analysis of pricing data for camping supplies from 2022 – 2023, the overall cost of a typical basket of camping gear has decreased by -1.77% with the following items seeing the most significant inflation reversal:
- The cost of Bear Protection decreased by 24.82% from 2022 – 2023
- Water Purifiers -10.86%
- Hiking Boots -9.08%
- Tents -4.69%
- Headlamps -4.04%
- Hammocks -2.98%
- Sleeping Pads -2.19%
- Fire Starters -2.15%
- Outdoor Games -1.29%
Buyer beware: There are still some items shoppers should watch out for if they’re looking to save money on their Labor Day camping trip. The following items saw the largest price increases over the 3.2% U.S. BLS benchmark for August 2023:
- The cost of Camping Pillows increased by +6.91% from 2022 – 2023
- Camping Chairs +4.91%
The takeaway: U.S. consumers might be trading in their barbecue sets for a sleeping bag and tent this year as they try to save money on their Labor Day celebrations. With the average cost of a typical Labor Day BBQ rising by +3.56% from 2022 – 2023, shoppers will need to be more intentional about their holiday preparations if they hope to save money on their grilling events. Alternatively, with the average cost of camping gear decreasing by -1.77% year over year, celebrants can save more by switching it up with a camping trip rather than planning a barbecue.
- Our data science team analyzed pricing data on Amazon during every day of 2022 and 2023 so far to understand what consumers can expect from their Labor Day shopping preparations this year. If you’re interested in using insights like these to improve your ecommerce strategy, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.
