Memorial Day cookouts are costing $80 a house as meat prices surge 20% with beef and chicken hitting record highs due to pandemic and inflation - while some opt for PIZZA instead

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Americans are forking out more cash to pay for their Memorial Day cookouts as meat prices surge, with the cost of ground beef and chicken breasts hitting record highs.

Shoppers may experience sticker shock this summer when stocking up for holiday barbecues, as prices have increased for nearly every product.

The average cost of ground beef and chicken breasts, per pound, have increased by more than 20 percent between April 2021 and April 2022, USDA data revealed.

Burgers, hot dogs and other cookout fixings - such as sliced cheese, tomatoes and lettuce - have also increased in price. 

This means the average American could be looking to spend more than $76 on their Memorial Day spread, DailyMail.com analysts determined. The total was calculated based on the current Walmart prices for America's most popular cookout foods.

Soaring cookout prices reflect the overall increase in food prices, fueled by the pandemic and increased rate of inflation. The U.S. saw its largest annual increase in food prices in 41 years between April 2021 and 2022, with the Bureau of Labor Statistics reporting a 9.4 percent surge. 

Grocery prices jumped 10.8 percent for the year, not adjusting for seasonal sways.

Americans are forking out more cash to pay for their Memorial Day cookouts as meat prices surge, with the cost of ground beef and chicken breasts hitting record highs. Meat prices are seen at a grocer in Hawaii on Friday

The average cost of ground beef and chicken breasts, per pound, have increased by more than 20 percent between April 2021 and April 2022

Skyrocketing food prices aren't exclusive to fresh meats and produce.

The price of frozen meat packages, not including poultry, has soared by 15.7 percent and frozen sausages by 24.4 percent, CNN analysts reported. Hot dogs saw a 14.5 percent price increase.

Packaged hot dog and hamburger buns rose by 11.2 percent, with ketchup and mustard spiking by 15.8 and 11.2 percent respectively.

Prices for fresh lettuce rose by 13.8 percent and tomatoes by 4.8 percent.

Carbonated beverages, such as soda, increased by 13.9 percent. Similarly, Market Watch reported a rise in alcoholic beverage prices. Beer prices increased by 5 percent and wine by 1.5 percent.

Additionally, the cost of propane, which is needed to fire most grills, has increased. 

As consumers are met with rising prices at the grocery store, some experts are suggesting that instead of grilling out, families should consider more cost-effective options for feeding large gatherings, such as ordering pizza.

'The inflationary environment is starting to take its toll,' Michael Nepveux, senior analyst for animal protein at Stable USA, told Bloomberg. 'Instead of steak or chicken, we might have pasta or a pizza.' 

The average American could be looking to spend more than $76 on their Memorial Day spread, DailyMail.com analysts determined. The total was calculated based on the current Walmart prices for America's most popular cookout foods

A social media shows the increase in price for the same cut of pork purchased in February 2022 vs May 2022

A variety of factors have sparked the rising food prices, including bad weather, which has decreased crop yields, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which increased the price of wheat and other items.

Jonna Parker, principal of IRI Fresh, recommends that shoppers try to take advantage of store sales and purchase store brands, which often cost less than name brand products.  

'[Grocers are] going to really want to drive that foot traffic,' she told CNN. 'And so they might take a margin hit or even a loss on one of the key Memorial Day items in order to try to get other items in the [shopping] basket.' 

However, the market researcher warned that despite occasional sales, food prices are still likely to continue rising.

'I think we're still going to see a year-over-year increase,' Parker said. 'I'm guessing it will still be anywhere from five to 10 percent higher than Memorial Day last year.' 

The U.S. is battling a rising inflation rate, which reached its highest point in more than four decades in March

Rising costs are also reflected in U.S. gas prices which soared to record heights again Sunday, reaching an all-time high of $4.61 per gallon. The number is more than 50 percent higher than the cost of a gallon a year ago.

Experts predict the price per gallon will likely surpass the $6 mark by the end of the summer - as pump costs in West Coast cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco already meeting that mark earlier this month.

Last week, the price of a gallon in each of the 50 states surpassed the $4 marker, a distinction never before reached.

Meanwhile, the U.S. is battling a rising inflation rate, which reached its highest point in more than four decades in March. 

A Labor Department report on May 11 said that the consumer price index increased 0.3 percent in April from the month before, for a 8.3 percent gain from a year ago, compared to March's 8.5 percent inflation rate increase. 

President Joe Biden has blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for America's rising inflation, saying in April: 'Putin's invasion of Ukraine has driven up gas prices and food prices all over the world.'

Biden, the US oldest-ever president, at 79, explained at the time: 'Ukraine and Russia are the one and two largest wheat producers in the world. We're three. They're shut down. We saw that in yesterday's inflation data.'

Inflation-fueled price increases have been reported across all industries

Gas prices in the US soared to record heights again Sunday, reaching an all-time high of $4.61 per gallon

The White House even dubbed the surge as the '#PutinPriceHike,' vowing that the president would do everything he can to shield Americans from 'pain at the pump.'

Many were quick to point out that it would not be logical to claim a war that started months ago was responsible for a year's worth of inflation.

Critics have also claimed that Biden's recent policy shifts dealing with energy and fuel have created a 'supply problem' in the gasoline market.

Biden has blamed chronic supply chain snarls related to the swift economic rebound from the pandemic as well as Russia's invasion of Ukraine for the crisis, as well as the rapidly rising inflation rates seen during his presidency.

He said his administration will help ease price increases by shrinking the government's budget deficit and by fostering competition in industries, like meatpacking, that are dominated by a few industry giants.