NEWS NATION (video) BBQ Prices on the Rise...here's why

Summer grilling season is here, but your shopping cart might feel a lot lighter on cash and heavier on sticker shock. "Grilling Season 2026: What's Really Driving Your Cookout Bill" his isn't generalized inflation — it's a handful of specific categories doing all the damage. Ground beef has hit record territory, running roughly $6.67–$6.70 per pound nationally this spring, up around 12–20% year-over-year depending on the week and the data source (BLS CPI data).

1. **Swap the centerpiece protein.** Lean into chicken or pork as the main event instead of beef; save beef for a smaller "feature" portion (sliders instead of quarter-pound burgers, for example).
2. **Buy paper goods in bulk now**, since pulp-driven cost increases are structural, not seasonal — they're not likely to dip before the holiday.
3. **Watch for retailer promotions on chicken specifically** — with wholesale chicken costs soft, expect to see it featured in weekly circulars heading into the holiday.
4. **Don't replace the grill — repair it.** A new two-burner grill is running $400+ in many markets; a parts-based repair can run a small fraction of that.
5. **Reframe the cookout, not just the menu.** With the structural drivers (cattle herd size, pulp/tariff costs) unlikely to reverse by Labor Day, this is a "new normal" pricing environment for backyard entertaining in 2026, not a one-summer blip.