WASHINGTON, Nov. 14, 2013 – The cost of a “classic” Thanksgiving dinner is down from last year, according to numbers released by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) today. The average cost of a 2013 feast for a family of 10 is $49.04, down 44 cents from 2012’s $49.48 average.
“The cost of this year’s meal, at less than $5 per serving, remains an excellent value for consumers,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman. “America’s farm and ranch families are honored to produce the food from our nation’s land for family Thanksgiving celebrations.”
The AFBF survey, an informal study conducted annually since 1986, used a shopping list of 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. The group notes the shopping list leaves “plenty” for leftovers.
The most expensive item – the turkey – will cost the average family $21.76, 47 cents less than last year’s price of $22.23. Three pounds of sweet potatoes, however, cost 21 cents more than last year.
An AFBF-created chart of the survey’s shopping list is below:
|
Item |
2012 Price |
2013 Price |
Difference |
|
16-pound turkey |
22.23 |
21.76 |
-.47 |
|
Rolls, 12 |
2.33 |
2.18 |
-.15 |
|
Green peas, 1 lb. |
1.66 |
1.54 |
-.12 |
|
Cubed stuffing, 14 oz. |
2.77 |
2.67 |
-.10 |
|
Fresh cranberries, 12 oz. |
2.45 |
2.42 |
-.03 |
|
Pie shells (2) |
2.51 |
2.49 |
-.02 |
|
Sweet potatoes, 3 lbs. |
3.15 |
3.36 |
+.21 |
|
Pumpkin pie mix, 30-oz. |
3.02 |
3.10 |
+.08 |
|
Milk, 1 gallon whole |
3.59 |
3.66 |
+.07 |
|
1-pound relish tray (carrots and celery) |
.76 |
.81 |
+.05 |
|
Whipping cream, ½ pint |
1.83 |
1.85 |
+.02 |
|
Misc. ingredients |
3.18 |
3.20 |
+.02 |
|
TOTAL |
49.48 |
49.04 |
-.44 |
#30
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