Your 4th of July Costs Went Up - But PA Republicans Don't Care
Pennsylvanians firing up the grill this Fourth of July weekend will pay more for their usual backyard cookouts than at any other point on record, and the blame lies with Republican inaction in Harrisburg and Washington.
July 3, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
press@pahdcc.com
YOUR 4TH OF JULY COSTS WENT UP - BUT PA REPUBLICANS DON’T CARE
HARRISBURG, PA – Pennsylvanians firing up the grill this Fourth of July weekend will pay more for their usual backyard cookouts than at any other point on record, and the blame lies with Republican inaction in Harrisburg and Washington.
According to the American Farm Bureau, a classic Fourth of July spread for ten people in 2026 costs around $73.82, up almost 4% from last year, and the highest total ever since the Bureau began their annual Summer Cookout Cost survey ten years ago. Ground beef alone is up 5.5% to over $14 for two pounds. Chicken breasts climbed 3.5%, pork chops rose nearly 5%, and strawberries jumped more than 12%. Even pork and beans are up, seeing the steepest increase of anything in the basket – up nearly 14% in a single year.
“Families across the Commonwealth just want to grill burgers and watch fireworks without worrying if they can afford their meals for the rest of the week too,” said Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee Executive Director Madeline Zann. “It’s hard to feel pride and patriotism when you can’t afford the basic necessities for your family to survive.”
The 250th Anniversary of American independence should be a time for celebration, but with Republican legislators ignoring the cost of living crisis and doing nothing to address skyrocketing inflation, many Pennsylvanians feel there is less to celebrate than ever before. And grocery bills aren’t the only thing rising - housing and utility bills are steadily increasing while minimum wage in the state hasn't budged in 20 years. Democrats are taking decisive action, but Republicans refuse to face reality.
“Pennsylvanians are smart enough to see that the party controlling the White House and Congress isn’t doing enough for them, and that Republicans here in the Commonwealth are focused on appeasing their extremist base by refusing to do something as simple as supporting a $15 minimum wage. This November, voters have a chance to make sure they elect Democrats in Pennsylvania who are actually committed to fighting and legislating to bring costs down, not pretending all is well while working families are drowning,” said Zann.
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Contact:
Sydney Robinson, Communications Director