Thanksgiving dinner cost is down

Turkeys are shown at Roth Turkey Farm near Forrest last year / CIFN file photo.

This year’s Thanksgiving dinner cost is down four percent, according to the annual survey from the American Farm Bureau.

The 35th annual survey of classic food items found on the holiday dinner table showed the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is an affordable $46.90, or less than $5.00 per person. This is actually down from last year’s average price of $48.91. The cost of turkey is less than last year, coming in at $19.39 for a 16-pound bird. In fact, Farm Bureau reports retail turkey prices are the lowest since 2010.

Other foods showing price declines were sweet potatoes and whipping cream. The food with modest increases included: pumpkin pie mix, dinner rolls and cubed bread stuffing.

Items on the shopping list for the annual informal survey include turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing, peas, cranberries, rolls with butter, veggie tray, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, coffee and milk.