07/04/2025: U.S. Fireworks Spending: A Look at the Numbers
Each year around the Fourth of July, Americans spend billions of dollars on fireworks. The growth in this category has been steady and striking:
Year U.S. Consumer Fireworks Spending
2000 $407 million
2010 $649 million
2020 $1.0 billion
2023 $2.2 billion
2024 $2.3+ billion
Some context behind these numbers:
- Fireworks spending has more than quintupled since 2000.
- Over 75% of fireworks sold in the U.S. are imported from China.
- According to the American Pyrotechnics Association, over 246 million pounds of fireworks were used in 2023, up from 102 million pounds in 2000.
- 8,000+ full-time jobs in the U.S. are tied to the fireworks industry, not including thousands of seasonal roles.
- July 4th-related spending across food, travel, and entertainment will exceed $9.5 billion this year, according to the National Retail Federation.
While short-lived, fireworks offer an annual snapshot of American consumer behavior, experience-driven, seasonal, and resilient despite inflationary pressure.
Wishing you and your family a safe and meaningful 4th of July.
Best,
Craig
