Inflation in the US takes its toll on Thanksgiving dinner with turkey 21% more expensive than a year ago

Sandra White usually has a turkey for dinner Thanksgivingbut rampant inflation forces him this time to dress the table for the traditional family party with fried chicken.

“It’s very expensive, very expensive,” says this 70-year-old woman from the multicultural and populous East Harlem neighborhood of New York City. Therefore, she asked her guests to bring some other dishes for dinner this Thursday.

History repeats itself with Yeisha Swan, but although she was lucky because one of her relatives bought the turkey, she had to cut expenses on the garnishes, which for many are as important as the main course.

This is much less than what I would buy. I couldn’t buy ham (…) I’m taking canned kale. It’s not the same,” Swan, 42, told AFP outside a New York supermarket.

The inflation it is red hot in the United States and this year reached its highest levels in decades. In October, at 12 months, the consumer price index fell slightly to 7.7% compared to 8.2% registered in September.

And while some prices have moderated in recent months, consumers say they are struggling to pay for groceries, a blow around the holidays.

The problem was compounded by an outbreak of bird flu that forced the slaughter of some 50 million poultry, including eight million turkeys, according to estimates based on data from the Agriculture department.

Turkey is 21% more expensive this year than last year, according to the US Farm Bureau.

buy less

Turkey isn’t the only traditional Thanksgiving dinner ingredient that’s gotten more expensive.

A farm office survey showed that turkey stuffing mix is ​​69% more expensive than last year.

The only “must-have” ingredient that has dropped in price is blueberries.

An average dinner for 10 people, including turkey, stuffing, peas, sweet potatoes, cranberries, carrots, rolls and pumpkin pie, costs $64.05, 20% more than in 2021, the entity said.

“I really had to buy less… We used to throw a party on Thanksgiving but we couldn’t do it this time,” said chef José Rodríguez, 58, who instead of dining at home welcoming all his relatives, he will eat alone with his wife and two dogs.

But even as the price of turkey skyrocketed, demand didn’t completely collapse.

The Wendel poultry farm, near the city of Buffalo, located in the state of New York, and which emerged unscathed from the crisis of bird flu, he sold the 1,100 turkeys he had for Thanksgiving. Customers can already place an order for Christmas.

To offset the rising costs of raw materials, the Wendel farm raised prices 22%, explained its manager, Cami Wendel.

The giant supermarket chain Walmart went in the opposite direction: Its Thanksgiving basket, including the turkey, costs the same as last year.

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