Turkey cost key in Thanksgiving dinner inflation

According to the American Farm Bureau Federation's 23rd annual Thanksgiving dinner cost survey, people will have to pay 6 percent more to get the feast on the table this year, mainly because turkey prices are up. The average cost of dinne for 10 is $44.61, an increase of $2.35 from last year. "The price of a 16-pound turkey is $19.09, or $1.19 per pound, which is an increase of 9 cents per pound compared to 2007," reports Lindsey Klingele of MeatingPlace. (Read more)

Other items that have increased in cost are a 12-oz. package of brown-and-serve rolls, $2.20; a 12-oz. package of fresh cranberries, $2.46; a 30-oz. can of pumpkin pie mix, $2.34; two 9-inch pie shells, $2.26; a 14-oz. package of cubed bread stuffing, $2.57; a relish tray of carrots and celery, 82 cents; a half-pint of whipping cream, $1.70; a pound of green peas, $1.58; and three pounds of sweet potatoes, $3.12 according to AFBF's Web site. Items that decreased in price included several basics: milk, coffee, onions, eggs, flour, sugar, and butter. (Read more)

Contrary to the national parent and its findings, the Indiana Farm Bureau says a Thanksgiving dinner for Hoosiers will cost 4.3 percent less than last year: $45.58, down $2.05. "White potato prices are up 35 percent this fall because potato acres were down 8 percent from last year," Purdue agricultural economist Corrine Alexander told Dave Russell of Brownfield Network. "In contrast, sweet potato prices are down because of a record crop of sweet potatoes." IFB said in its release, "Neither the national nor Indiana surveys is scientific They are instead snapshots of prices on basic items during a given time period." (Read more)

The National Farmers Union reminds us that "off-farm costs including marketing, processing, wholesaling, distribution and retailing account for 80 cents of every food dollar spent in the United States." For details and examples from NFU, click here.