WASHINGTON — Americans were on course to spend record sums on Fourth of July cookouts, retail and farm groups said Thursday, as families stocked up on food, flags and fireworks ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary weekend. The National Retail Federation projected total holiday spending in the billions of dollars.

The American Farm Bureau Federation, which publishes an annual cookout price survey, said the cost of feeding a group of ten remained elevated compared with a year earlier. The increase was largely driven by higher beef prices stemming from tight cattle supplies, even as chicken and some produce costs eased.

Grocery chains including Walmart and Kroger promoted holiday discounts on hamburgers, hot dogs and buns. Warehouse retailers reported strong demand for larger party packs. Retail analysts attributed the surge in cookout activity to the semiquincentennial encouraging bigger gatherings than in typical years.

The cookout surge coincided with heightened patriotic marketing tied to the America250 commemorations. Tourism boards and city governments across the country, including in St. George, Utah, planned expanded firework displays and community festivals over the long weekend.

"Families are gathering in larger numbers this year to mark a milestone anniversary," said the American Farm Bureau Federation. "Even with beef prices higher, the backyard barbecue remains at the heart of how Americans celebrate the Fourth."