Thanksgiving dinner cost rose 13% in 2011

Thanksgiving dinner and all the fixing cost rose 13% in 2011, the biggest jump since 1990.

Thanksgiving dinner now costs, on average, $49.20 to feed 10 people, up $5.73 from last year, according to an informal survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation.

The biggest increase came from the cost of turkey, which is about 22% more expensive than it was last year.

A 16-pound turkey now costs an average of $21.60, compared with $17.70 in 2010.

The price per person for Thanksgiving dinner is about $4.93.

The American Farm Bureau Federation chalks up the price rise to stronger demand for poultry, not only in the U.S. but around the world.

Additionally, grocery stores are no longer willing to keep prices even in the face of rising costs.

“Retailers are being more aggressive about passing on higher costs for shipping, processing and storing food to consumers,” said farm bureau senior economist John Anderson.

The menu includes enough 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 to feed 10 people – with leftovers.

The prices were compiled by volunteer shoppers who bought the ingredients in 35 states.

American Farm Bureau said their cost estimates were made without buying anything on sale, and savvy shoppers should be able to bring down the price in most areas.

Despite the big increase, American Farm Bureau insists that Thanksgiving dinner prices remain relatively stable, when adjusted for inflation.

“Although we’ll 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,” John Anderson said.

Still, the 13% price jump is the second-highest since the farm bureau began doing the Thanksgiving survey in 1986.

The biggest increase came in 1990, when the price of a meal jumped nearly 17% from 1989.

 

Thanksgiving dinner 2011 costs:

 

Item 2011 Price Difference

16-pound turkey $21.57 +$3.91

1 gallon milk $3.66 +$0.42

Pumpkin pie mix $3.03 +$0.41

Whipping cream $1.96 +$0.26

Cubed stuffing $2.88 +$0.24

Green peas $1.68 +$0.24

Dozen rolls $2.30 +$0.18

Sweet potatoes $3.26 +$0.07

Fresh cranberries $2.48 +$0.07

Pie shells $2.52 +$0.06

Misc. ingredients $3.10 -$0.12

Relish tray $0.76 -$0.01

TOTAL $49.20 +$5.73

 

The cost of Thanksgiving dinner has risen consistently since the American Farm Bureau Association began its survey:

 

1987 – $24.51 – 14.7%

1989 – $24.70 – 7.2%

1991 – $25.95 – 10.1%

1993 – $27.49 – 4.2%

1995 – $29.64 – 4.4%

1997 – $31.75 – 0.3%

1999 – $33.83 – 2.2%

2001 – $35.04 – 8.3%

2003 – $36.28 – 5.0%

2005 – $36.78 – 3.1%

2007 – $42.26 – 10.9%

2009 – $42.91 – 3.8%

2011 – $49.20 – 13.2%