Even with food prices spiking in several grocery store aisles all year, the American Farm Bureau Federation says a classic Thanksgiving dinner for 10 will cost less than it did last year and the year before that.
The overall average for a standard Thanksgiving dinner, based on a basket of food including but not limited to turkey, cranberries, sweet potatoes, vegetables, rolls, stuffing, pumpkin pie mix and certain dairy products, totals out at $55.18. American Farm Bureau economist Dr Faith Parum:
Retail turkey prices are down 16 percent despite an increase in wholesale prices as grocers feature holiday deals. Other items had price decreases, like rolls and stuffing. Fresh vegetables and sweet potatoes had price increases. Parum says retail food prices are often indicators of adjustments across the farm economy.
People adding other items such as boneless ham, Russet potatoes and frozen green beans push the total average cost to over $77.
