(Trends Wide) — Thanksgiving dinner will cost 20% more than last year due to inflation, according to a new survey released Wednesday by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).
A feast for 10 with 12 menu items, including a turkey, stuffing, cranberries, and pumpkin pie mix will cost $64.05 on average, an increase of $10.74 from last year. This amounts to about US$6.50 per person, according to the annual survey.
The price of a 16-pound turkey (about 7 kilos) is US$ 28.96 on average this year, 21% more than in 2021, according to the survey. Inflation cooled last month but remains elevated at 7.7% for the year ending in October.
“Headline inflation that saps consumers’ purchasing power is a significant factor contributing to the increase in the average cost of Thanksgiving dinner this year,” said Roger Cryan, chief economist at the AFBF.
Anyone who wants a turkey should be able to find it this year, despite instances of temporary regional shortages in Midwestern states where bird flu was prevalent this year. Supply chain issues stemming from the war in Ukraine pushed up the cost of Thanksgiving menu items, as well as input costs for farmers and ranchers, such as feed, fuel and fertilizer.
Every Thanksgiving food item the AFBF has tested has gone up in price this year except one: cranberries. A 12-ounce bag of fresh blueberries was down 14% to $2.57. The biggest price increases were in the filling, which was up a whopping 69%, and in pie crusts and whipped cream, both up 26%, according to the survey.
The AFBF has also put together an “expanded Christmas menu” with additional items: ham, russet potatoes and frozen green beans, which would add $17.25 more to a meal for 10 people.
The survey was conducted with 224 volunteer shoppers who checked prices in person and online at grocery stores in all 50 states and Puerto Rico from October 18-31. Shoppers searched for the best possible prices without using coupons or purchase offers, the AFBF said. Shoppers in the western part of the country saw the highest prices, while those in the south found Thanksgiving menu items more affordable.
Since the survey was conducted, there has been some good news for all shoppers: Frozen turkey prices are down about 14% this week, and most grocery store chains are offering deals, according to an analysis. of the data of the United States Department of Agriculture carried out by the AFBF.
