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Food for the Fourth
What Americans consume more of on Independence Day -- and how much it will cost.
July 1, 2005: 9:49 AM EDT
By Les Christie, CNN/Money staff writer

NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - This holiday weekend Americans will show their patriotism with flags, fireworks...and food.

"Ill tell you what we don't eat on the Fourth of July," said Harry Balzer, vice president of NPD Group, which surveys the daily meal intake of more than 300 Americans. "French toast, Asian food, Lasagna. Are you spotting a pattern here?"

Balzer compiled a list of foods Americans are more likely to consume on Independence Day than on an average day:

  • Potato salad: 540 percent more likely to eat it on July 4 than on an average day.
  • Baked beans: 357 percent more likely.
  • Hot dogs: 210 percent.
  • Ice cream sodas and floats: 200 percent.
  • Pickles: 167 percent.
  • Cole slaw: 150 percent.
  • Macaroni and other pasta salads: 150 percent.
  • Hamburgers: 117 percent.

Conveniently, the prices on many of these foods have dropped recently, according to the Farm Bureau Survey released in June.

Ground chuck fell 20 cents per pound since March to $2.21. Potato prices dropped 22 cents, to $2.10 for a five-pound bag. Another key July 4th ingredient, mayonnaise, dropped even more -- 49 cents, to $2.70, for a 32-ounce jar.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, ice cream prices have also gone down, by about 2 percent since last July. But the soda for that ice cream float probably went up in cost, to an average of $1.13 for a two-liter bottle, a 2.4 percent rise.

Let us not forget that we American adults sometimes like to wash down that ample fare with good old American beer. July is, after all, American Beer Month. The Brewers Association reports that Americans will imbibe 40 percent more beer in July than during the average month. Beer prices are averaging $1.09 for 16 ounces, up 4.2 percent from last July.

After most of the eating and drinking ends, Americans will flock to fireworks displays. The United States imported $172.5 million worth of fireworks last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Most was manufactured in China -- the United States exported only $17.3 million worth of fireworks in 2002, the last year for which statistics are available.

And how about American flags? The Census Bureau reports that the United States imported more than $5.2 million dollars worth of American flags in 2004, again mostly from China. American manufacturers shipped a mere $851,000 worth of American flags overseas.

The Fourth of July is a popular day for eating contests. To read about some eating champs, click here.

Best brewers ranked -- the top 50.  Top of page

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