Inflation in the U.S. has run close to 0% this year. Food prices, however, are higher in some cases, which has driven up the cost of a Thanksgiving meal modestly.
According to the New York Farm Bureau’s recent research:
The 2015 Market Basket Survey reveals a nearly 3% price increase for the average Thanksgiving Day dinner over last year’s meal. The average total price this year, which includes a 16 lb. turkey, is $52.30. This is a $1.36 increase over last year’s total of $50.94. Turkey prices are $1.65 per pound, up 12-cents a pound on average in this informal survey. This modest rise is likely attributed to a decline in production following the avian influenza outbreak in the Midwest earlier this year. However, the increase is partially offset by a decline in other prices, including for a gallon of whole milk, which has dropped 53 cents from last year at this time.
The price of some ingredients has surged. For example, the cost of a 14 oz. bag of herb-seasoned cube stuffing has risen 18% from last year to $3.04. And a 12 oz. package of 12 enriched Brown & Serve Rolls is up 13% to $3.11. Offsetting that, the price of a pound of fresh carrots has dropped from $1.66 to $1.24. The cost of one bunch of celery has fallen from $2 to $1.78.
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The modest change in prices should not mean much to the middle class. But it has made a meal even less attainable for the poorest families.
Methodology: As always, New York Farm Bureau’s volunteer shoppers throughout the organization’s 11 districts upstate and on Long Island try to get the best prices available, but they do not use promotional coupons or special deals, such as “buy one-get one free.” The shopping list includes 12 Thanksgiving food items ranging from turkey and rolls to fresh carrots and celery to whipping cream.
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