Classic Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Up 13%

WASHINGTONHold on to your giblets, the cost to feed a family of 10 a classic home-cooked Thanksgiving dinner, including turkey, stuffing, cranberries, pumpkin pie and all the basic trimmings, will cost a whopping 13% more this year. According to results of the American Farm Bureau Federations (AFBF) 26^th annual survey, the average cost of this years feast is $49.20, a $5.73 price increase from last years average of $43.47.

The AFBF survey shopping list included turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, coffee and milk, all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10 with plenty of leftovers. The cost of a 16-pound turkey, at $21.57, was the big ticket item, jumping 25 cents per pound to $1.35 per pound compared to 2010.

Turkey prices are higher this year primarily due to strong consumer demand both here in the U.S. and globally," said John Anderson, an AFBF senior economist.

He added retailers are being more aggressive about passing on higher costs for shipping, processing and storing food to consumers, although turkeys may still be featured in special sales and promotions close to Thanksgiving. Although well pay a bit more this year, on a per-person basis, our traditional Thanksgiving feast remains a better value than most fast-food value meals, plus its a wholesome, home-cooked meal," he said.

A gallon of whole milk increased in price by 42 cents per gallon to $3.66. Other price increases were seen in pumpkin pie mix, ready-made pie shells, whipping cream, green peas, packaged cubed bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, fresh cranberries and brown-n-serve rolls. A 1-pound relish tray of carrots and celery declined by a penny to 76 cents, while a combined group of miscellaneous items, including coffee and ingredients necessary to prepare the meal (onions, eggs, sugar, flour, evaporated milk and butter) decreased in price, to $3.10.

Demand for U.S. dairy products has been strong throughout the year and continues to influence retail prices, as demand for higher-quality food products grows globally," Anderson said.