The National Football League preseason is underway and, in just a couple of weeks, the regular season kicks off.
That means that tailgating is already underway, and in just a couple of weeks, it kicks into high gear. This season, unfortunately, just like everything else, it's probably going to cost a bit more than you’re used to.
According to Wells Fargo, the cost of beer is up near 5% since last July, groceries are up about 13% and, if you’re grilling, propane and firewood are up about 22% respectively.
"There's a lot of pent-up demand," said Sarah House, a senior economist at Wells Fargo. "[And] there are ways that fans can mitigate the cost of seeing their favorite team play, whether it's in person or away from the stadium."
Economists say that, even with the higher prices, they still expect plenty of parking lot parties this year, though some may be just a little more frugal.
"When dealing with the highest inflation in 40 years, it's going to require flexibility from fans just to enjoy game day, just like it is [required in] their everyday budgets," House said.
One way to save money is to opt for hot dogs or pork ribs, the prices of which are not up as much as chicken or ground beef. Or, instead of watching the game in person, you could watch it at home.