The average cost of a Thanksgiving dinner is 5% lower than it was a year ago, but still higher than it was before the pandemic.
Garrett Hawkins, president of Missouri Farm Bureau, said it will cost $58.08 cents for a gathering of ten people, or $5.80 a person.
“We’re experiencing a time of pretty low commodity prices,” Hawkins told Missourinet. “Turkey prices are down for consumers. That’s a good thing.”
Turkey prices are down 6%, according to data gathered by the American Farm Bureau. Prices for sweet potatoes, frozen pie crusts, pumpkin pie mix, frozen peas, veggie trays, and milk are all down as well. But prices have increased for cubed stuffing mix, whipping cream, dinner rolls, and cranberries.
“Prices overall continue to be up from where they were five years ago,” Hawkins said. “We’re still talking 28% above from 2019.”
As for why prices are still higher than before the pandemic, Hawkins cited energy and electricity costs that go into food processing.
“So, you think about energy, for instance, energy or electricity costs across the United States are up on average 30%. Those electricity costs impact processing,” he said. “They ultimately impact grocery stores as well, who are operating and providing this food on the shelves, or in the meat case.”
Hawkins said fuel prices are also higher than they were five years ago for trucks that transport food and accessories to grocery stores. He added that inflation remains a factor, but less so than last year.
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