Patriotic New Yorkers are getting roasted at the register as they celebrate the Fourth of July this year. <\/p>\n
Shoppers in the five boroughs are shelling out an extra $63 this year as they prepare for backyard barbecues marking the country\u2019s 250th birthday.<\/p>\n
The already sky-high prices of\u00a0BBQ\u00a0essentials surged a staggering\u00a031% on average in the Big Apple since last year, according to a Post review of retail prices across Gotham grocery stores.<\/p>\n
Shoppers in the five boroughs are shelling out an extra $63 this year for their July 4th barbecues. Helayne Seidman for the NY Post<\/p>\n
A typical cookout for 10 people \u2014 complete with hot dogs, beef hamburgers and all the fixings, plus dessert and alcohol \u2014 will set shoppers back a whopping $295, compared to $232 this time last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese prices are just insane,\u201d New Yorker Diana Hernandez, who was buying food at the East 14th Street Target Friday, told The Post. \u201cYou can\u2019t buy nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
That gooey slice of cheese to top a grilled hamburger is one of the items that climbed the most \u2013 a pack of 16 Kraft singles went from $3 last year to $5 this year \u2013 a bump of 67%.<\/p>\n
Booze also took a big hit. A 12-pack of Budweiser or Bud light cans sold for $11 last July 4th at Morton Williams but is now retailing for $17 \u2014 up a shocking 55%.<\/p>\n
Imported wines are up too because of the impact of tariffs<\/a>. A bottle of Chateau Lamothe De Haux Bordeaux Blanc that sold for $20 last year at a Manhattan wine store is now going for $22 \u2014 up 10%.<\/p>\n Condiments weren\u2019t spared from inflation either. The same 38 oz. bottle of Heinz ketchup that sold for $4 last summer is now going for $5.60 \u2013 a 40% increase.<\/p>\n The price of tomatoes hit a record high in April, driven by tariffs on Mexican tomatoes<\/a> and bad weather south of the border, and in Florida, damaging crops.<\/p>\n At ShopRite, a pound of beefsteak tomatoes was $2 last year, and this year is selling for $2.50 \u2014 a 25% difference.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone\u2019s stretched,\u201d said Fedy Rizk, who was buying food this week at the Target on the South Shore of Staten Island. \u201cTwo, three dollars \u2014 it adds up.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamburger meat<\/a> is up as much as 29% in the city since last Independence Day, because of the\u00a0smallest cattle herd in 75 years<\/a> in the United States amid\u00a0severe droughts and higher production costs<\/a>.<\/p>\n The prices of\u00a0BBQ\u00a0essentials surged a staggering\u00a031% on average in the Big Apple since last year. Cavan \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n Hamburger meat is up 29% in NYC since last Independence Day, due to the smallest US cattle herd in 75 years. Helayne Seidman for the NY Post<\/p>\n A pack of six original Bubba\u2019s brand beef burgers, weighing 1\/3-pound cost $14 the week before last July 4th at the local ShopRite. This year, the same item at the same store is selling for $18.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s too expensive,\u201d lamented shopper Kele Nkhereanye. \u201cI\u2019m just trying to survive.<\/p>\n \u201cJuly 4th isn\u2019t going to be the same. . . . I don\u2019t think it\u2019s fair.\u201d<\/p>\n Other grilling favorites rose too. <\/p>\n Hot dogs are up 20% in NYC from a year ago. Helayne Seidman for the NY Post<\/p>\n New Yorkers will spend an extra $63 this year for an average backyard barbecue for 10 people. Peera \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n The same pack of 10 classic Oscar Mayer hot dogs that sold for $2.50 last year is now going for $3 \u2013 up 20%.<\/p>\n Another major driver of soaring BBQ costs is the rise in global oil prices, making it more expensive to transport food to supermarket shelves. <\/p>\n