Americans to celebrate Independence Day with fireworks, hotdogs but less steaks

Fireworks as usual, more hotdogs and hamburgers for grills but less steaks, that will be the scene of how most Americans celebrate the coming July 4 Independence Day.

As Americans celebrate their traditional July 4 long weekend holidays, the country is in an economic recession. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the U.S. economy lost 467,000 jobs in June, and that the unemployment rate is now 9.5 percent, a 26-year high.

Watching fireworks and enjoying barbecues are the traditional way for most Americans to celebrate the Independence Day. Fortunately, even in the recession, most Americans still prefer to watch fireworks and in Southern California and elsewhere in the U.S. fireworks displays will go as usual, with a few cancellations.

The American Pyrotechnics Association, a national trade organization for the fireworks industry, expects about a 5 percent drop this year in the approximately 14,000 displays normally held in this country each July 4.

Fireworks booths can be seen almost everywhere in Los Angeles and other cities. Most of the fireworks are imported from China.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, approx. 207 million dollars worth of fireworks were imported from China in 2007, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported at 217 million dollars.

The value of fireworks imported from China in 2008 is estimated at 193 million dollars, representing the bulk of all U.S. fireworks imported at 202 million dollars.

Consumers may cut spending on clothes, electronics and fancy dinners during the holiday, but pyrophiles across America aren't skimping on Independence Day fireworks.

"It is going to be a banner year for the consumer fireworks industry," says Julie Heckman, head of the American Pyrotechnics Association.

"We are all depressed, we want a distraction," she says. "People want something to elevate their mood at a relatively inexpensive cost."

Independence Day barbecues will go as usual, but it is estimated that Americans will throw more hotdogs and hamburgers on their grills rather than higher priced meat like steaks.

Meat sales are usually good during the U.S. Memorial Day weekend at the end of May, Independence Day, and the U.S. Labor Day weekend in early September, but this year that business will likely be down.

Beef and pork sales, which are normally robust in the spring and summer for barbecues, have been slow as consumers either have less cash to spend or worry about their jobs.

The slow meat sales have been particularly bad for cattle and hog producers in the U.S. who have struggled with high feed costs for nearly a year and now, because of the slow meat sales, cannot get profitable prices for their livestock.

Auto companies, banks, and newspapers have laid off thousands of workers.

"Until the economy improves, we are going to see pressure on the quality meats. That is keeping pressure on livestock prices," said Ron Plain , agricultural economist at the University of Missouri .

"People just want to eat cheaper," he said.

Meanwhile, the American Automobile Association (AAA) expects fewer Americans to travel during the July 4 holiday weekend this year. But the number of people traveling on airplanes is expected to rise.

AAA forecasted that 37.1 million Americans will take a trip of 50 miles or longer during the weekend, which is typically the busiest time of the year for auto travel. That's down 1.9 percent from the 37.8 million who traveled during the same period last year, which is a 12.3 percent decline from 42.3 million travelers in 2007.

But AAA estimated that the air-travel industry is expected to see a 4.9 percent increase in bookings for the weekend this year. Air travel accounts for only 5 percent of July 4 leisure travel.

AAA projected a 2.6 percent decline in auto trips, dropping to 32.6 million from 33.4 million last year.

The lowest average published airfares over the Independence Day weekend are expected to be down 16 percent from last year, according to AAA's Leisure Travel Index.

A poll conducted by the trade group in conjunction with BIG research, a consumer research firm, showed 144 million Americans said they will host or attend a cookout, barbecue or picnic this year, compared to 139 million people in 2008.

And almost 63 percent of survey respondents said they would be enjoying a food feast of some sort and 42 percent, or 98 million people, said they would be attending a fireworks display or community celebration. About 11 percent plan to travel.