Breaking down the costs of your Super Bowl feast—it’s a good year to have wings
Calories don’t count on Super Bowl Sunday. (Right?) Maybe that’s why we gorge ourselves on an obscene amount of food as we watch finely tuned athletes battle for the NFL championship. Unfortunately, those snacks don’t come without a cost. And Wells Fargo’s annual survey of Super Bowl snack costs is a bit of a mixed bag for people who are hosting a large crowd.
Food inflation in the past year is up 1.3% from a year ago (and spending on food from restaurants is up even more, climbing 5.3%), according to the bank.
On the whole, you can expect your Super Bowl spending to be higher this year, but there are ways to control the costs. While some food faves cost more this year, others are cheaper. And a little selective shopping could earn you the MVP with not only guests, but your spouse.
Here’s a look at what you can expect as you head to the store:
Chicken wings
It’s a good year to have wings at your Super Bowl party. Prices for fresh chicken wings are down 5% from a year ago—and frozen wings are 11% cheaper. That could make this the go-to food for people this year.
Potato chips
What’s a party without chips? Well, cheaper…that’s for sure. Potato chip prices in December 2023 were 5% higher than the year before. Labor and packaging are a big part of the reason. Wells Fargo suggests this might be a good year to try alternative (store) labels for a change.
Tortilla chips
Pivoting from Ruffles to chips and dip isn’t going to help. Tortilla chips are 6% higher than a year ago, largely due to the food supply disruption of the past few years.
Salsa
If you’re making your own, you should be okay, but prepackaged salsa costs 3% more than it did a year ago. Once again, Wells Fargo suggests trying a different brand this year. “Often times, store brands and local producers are more apt to offer a value for the Super Bowl shopper,” it wrote.
Avocado dip/Guacamole
One bright spot for the crunchy snack fan is avocado dip. Prices are up just 1% from a year ago, as supplies grew in that time, particularly in Mexico.
Beer
As more and more people adopt alcohol-free lifestyles, beer prices have remained fairly…well, flat. The price of beer is up just 0.7% in the past year, with the average pint costing $1.75.
Soft drinks
Soda, on the other hand, is up 4.8% (for canned drinks) from the end of 2022, in part because more people are opting for alternative beverages. Buying a two-liter bottle could save you some cash, though, as those prices are down 0.8%. (Aluminum prices have also impacted the beer industry since the start of the pandemic.)
Since the arrival of COVID in 2020, a 12-ounce can of soda has seen overall price increases of 57%, while two-liter bottles are up 33%.
Beef
Planning to make meatballs or grill some steaks for the game? Brace yourself. The price of sirloin steak is up 2.3% from a year ago, while a pound of ground beef is up nearly 12%. Prices are off their highs, but record-low cattle numbers are still impacting the industry.
Shrimp
Shrimp might not be the go-to Super Bowl party snack for some people, but it might be worth exploring this year. Prices are down 6.4% from early 2023. Crustaceans could be the sneak play that gets people talking at your party.
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
