Cost Of Summer Grilling Down This Year, USDA Says

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- It's going to cost you a bit less this summer to set up the perfect charcoal pyramid, spray it with untold amounts of lighter fluid, singe off some of your arm hair, constantly rearrange pieces of meat over a grime-covered grate, and endure complaints from your children that their meat is either charred or bloody.

According to the latest figures released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, most of the meats that are popular for summer grilling are down in price.

First and foremost, ground beef is down 41 cents per pound from the previous spring -- $3.72 on average as opposed to $4.13. If you opt for lean or extra lean ground beef, your savings are even more pronounced, at 46 cents per pound.

Boneless chicken breasts are down by 16 cents per pound, steak is down anywhere from 11 to 14 cents per pound (depending on the cut), and pork chops are down by 7 cents per pound.

And if you're fancy and want to top your hamburger with an egg, month-to-month prices just dropped 11 cents, to $1.68, compared to $2.97 last fall.