Memorial Day BBQ costs rise 4%: Rabobank analyzes economic factors

Consumers may simply see a 4% increase in the cost of a Memorial Day BBQ, but farmers who look at the agricultural economics behind those numbers can find hot opportunities and cold financial realities.

The cumulative result is the cost of an all-American BBQ is up from $73 in 2018 to $103 this year. And that’s without including a deviled egg on the plate.

A deep dive into the 2025 Rabobank BBQ Index shows tariffs are a minor player, but food production costs and geopolitics weigh heavily on what’s happening between the farm and the table.

In the overall, several components contribute to higher food costs and consumer spending, according to Tom Bailey, senior analyst-consumer foods at Rabobank. During the company’s annual state-of-the-BBQ report on Tuesday, Bailey noted these factors: