Thanksgiving feast will cost less this year, American Farm Bureau says

By Amy R. Connolly   |   Nov. 17, 2016 at 9:46 AM

The price of turkey dropped, on average, 2 cents a pound since last year, and is now about $1.42 per pound, helping to bring down the price of an average Thanksgiving dinner. Photo by Karen Grigoryan/Shutterstock

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- The average cost for a Thanksgiving Day feast for 10 this year is $49.87, a 24-cent decrease from last year's average cost of $50.11, the American Farm Bureau Federation said.

The cost for a traditional feast, which includes turkey, vegetables and pumpkin pie, comes out to less than $5 per person, the organization said. A 16-pound turkey -- usually the most expensive part of the meal -- averaged $22.74 in 2016. That comes out to about $1.42 per pound, which is a decrease of 2-cents per pound when compared to 2015. The Farm Bureau has been collecting Thanksgiving cost data since 1986.

"We have seen farm prices for many foods - including turkeys - fall from the higher levels of recent years. This translates into lower retail prices for a number of items as we prepare for Thanksgiving and confirms that U.S. consumers benefit from an abundant, high-quality and affordable food supply," John Newton, the Farm Bureau's director of market intelligence, said.

In addition to a drop in price for turkey, other foods that have seen price decreases include pumpkin pie mix, milk, vegetable trays with carrots and celery and miscellaneous items that include coffee, butter and flour.

Items that have increased in price include brown-and-serve rolls, green beans, fresh cranberries and fresh sweet potatoes.

For the survey, 148 volunteer shoppers checked grocery store prices in 40 states. Shoppers were encouraged to find the best possible prices without using coupons or promotional purchases.

"Shoppers with an eye for bargains in all areas of the country should be able to purchase individual menu items at prices comparable to the Farm Bureau survey averages," the organization said.

"Another option for busy families without a lot of time to cook is ready-to-eat Thanksgiving meals for up to 10 people, with all the trimmings, which are available at many supermarkets and take-out restaurants for around $50 to $75," the organization said.