Cost of Thanksgiving dinner rises 13%
November 10, 2011 4:30PM
ROASTED TURKEY
What it costs
The costs for nearly everything from cranberries to pumpkin pie are up. Here are the costs and the increase or decrease from a year ago:
Turkey: 16 lb., $21.57, up $3.91
Milk: 1 gal. $3.66, up 42 cents
Pumpkin pie mix: 30 oz. $3.03 , up 41 cents
Whipping cream: ½ pint, $1.96, up 26 cents
Cubed stuffing: 14 oz. $2.88 , up 24 cents
Green peas: 1 lb., $1.68, 24 cents
Rolls: 12, $2.30, up 18 cents
Sweet potatoes: 3 lbs., $3.26, up 7 cents
Fresh cranberries: 12 oz., $2.48, up 7 cents
Pie shells: 2, $2.52, up 6 cents
Misc. ingredients (coffee, butter, etc.): $3.10, down 12 cents
Relish tray: 1 lb. (carrots and celery), 76 cents, down 1 cent
Updated: December 13, 2011 8:53AM
It’s going to cost a bit more to put a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on the table this year.
The American Farm Bureau Federation reported Thursday that a meal with turkey and all the trimmings will cost about 13 percent more this holiday.
It estimates the average cost to make a meal for 10 people is $49.20. That’s $5.73 more than last year’s average of $43.47, with the biggest cost jump coming from turkey, which costs 22 percent more this year. The classic Thanksgiving meal comes in at about $5 per person.
It’s a result of soaring costs for commodities that are raising prices for food makers, grocers and consumers.
The group surveyed prices in stores nationwide. But grocers often discount key items as the holiday approaches and that could reduce the cost of Thanksgiving dinner.
John Anderson, senior economist for the Farm Bureau, said it’s important to remember that Americans spend a smaller percentage of their income on food than most people around the world.
“Given what is going on in the economy, higher prices on anything are not welcome,” Anderson said. “(But) it does not have the same impact as food prices in other parts of the world do. We are fortunate in that sense.”
