Higher prices in the grocery aisles certainly aren’t new, but your wallet will feel a lot lighter after you scan the hot dogs, buns, and even the barbecue sauce for your party celebrating America’s 250th birthday.

This year, Barron’s has published a series of articles linking the birth and growth of America with the rise of financial markets. Now, we’re reprising them as the Fourth of July approaches. Today, the car maker’s decision to pay $5 a day—about $165 in 2026—helped create the America we know now. The world hailed what became known as “Fordism.”