The Gobbler Is Cheaper This Year
The
American Farm Bureau Federation’s 28th annual informal price survey of classic
items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of
this year’s feast for 10 is $49.04, a 44¢ decrease from last year’s average of
$49.48.
While not
adjusted for inflation, the first price survey was $28.74 (1986), the lowest
was $24.51 (1987), and the highest was $49.20 (2011).
The cost of
this year’s meal, at less than $5 per serving, remains an excellent value for
consumers,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman, a rice and cattle producer from
Texas.
The AFBF
survey shopping list includes turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls
with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie
with whipped cream, and beverages of coffee and milk, all in quantities
sufficient to serve a family of 10. There is also plenty for leftovers.
The big-ticket
item, a 16-lb. turkey, came in at $21.76 this year. That was roughly $1.36/lb.,
a decrease of about 3¢/lb., or a total of 47¢ per whole turkey, compared to
2012. The whole bird was the biggest contributor to the final total, showing
the largest price decrease compared to last year.
Sadly,
calories have not decreased.
While
Farm Bureau does not make any scientific claims about the data, it is an
informal gauge of price trends around the nation. Farm Bureau’s survey menu has
remained unchanged since 1986 to allow for consistent price comparisons.
Labels: AFBF 28th Annual Informal Price Survey of the Thanksgiving Meal, Thanksgiving meal cost, Thanksgiving Turkey Cost
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