Cost Of Thanksgiving Dinner Rises Twice The Normal Rate (VIDEO)

This year has been full of discouraging economic news, from the larger financial crisis' assault on savings, the resulting drop in consumer spending and the many other effects. Unfortunately, Thanksgiving is no different.

Ephraim Leibtag of the USDA Economic Research Service says in the Bloomberg video below that the cost of Thanksgiving dinner will have risen 6% this year over last year, adding that that is about double the normal rate.

WATCH:

Comments

[save1nj]

tuukey $17, stuffing from scratch $12, 5 lbs homemade mashed potatoes $7. salad $6, watching my family fall asleep on the couch?priceless.

[macbabe]

no pie? :(

[greysilk]

Did you check out the picture of the turkey topping this article - there is something seriously weird looking about the neck - creepy.

[guajiro]

The last two years the price of food has skyrocketed in my area, so this Thanksgiving I bought one of those pre-cooked chickens. Way cheaper and just as fillin. Screw the billionaires, they got enough money already.

[Chironomid]

We like a traditional Thanx, and we're in the middle of fixing one right now. But, no real potatoes this year -- the robbers wanted $4.50 for a 5lb bag. That's like a 3X increase. The heck with that.

[Chillinout]

I must live in an area that is in some kind of bubble. The cost of food around here is going down. The supermarkets here have a lot more items on sale than they used to. I bought a turkey a few days ago and got it for 1/2 price, which put it at about $.70 lb.

[Topfeeder]

We go to a local hotel for their Thanksgiving buffet. It's not cheap but it's our family tradition. We get all dressed up and booze it up on the complimentary champagne. This Saturday we all get together again and potluck a traditional Thanksgiving meal and eat leftovers on Sunday. This way we spend more time together and it's like having 2 holidays.

[KarateKid]

I hope you have a designated driver.

[Topfeeder]

Of course. The teens drive home.

[coolkraft]

going to a sports pub for wings and whatever.....cheaper and more fun and a lot less work for me

[ohmetoo]

Interesting article, however they left out the most important center piece of the Thanksgiving table.

What about the cost of turkey or ham? Just an oversight I'm sure!

[naschkatze]

Here at the local Fred Meyer you had to buy $150 worth of groceries to get a free turkey. In past years it has been $100 so it has been a 50% increase. And that it is not including the price of the things you buy to get the free turkey. I decided to pass. I bet the food banks are not handing out as many turkeys as before, and how many stories will we see tonight on tv of restaurants opening their doors to one and all?

[dhertzfe]

I have switched from the bird to a nice pork roast with the same side dishes for a few years now. No one seems to mind that the bird was missing. Of course, my pork roast is to die for if I may add. :-)

[LemonMeringue]

Skip the turkey. It's cruel and nobody makes any money off them anyway at 58 cents per pound and the meat isn't tasty anymore since the factory farms feed them offal and slaughterhouse remnants and stuff they did not evolve to eat.

It's the stuffing and side dishes that make the meal.

[lizr]

so you really have to buy an organic turkey not to have to put up with those conditions, I suppose?

[Photofarm]

People have gotten too far removed from the farm. Organic turkeys eat some natural stuff that many would call icky.

[alieninvader]

I'd be very happy with a meat free Thanksgiving, but unfortunately, I'm a minority of one in my family.

[dozaa]

I have been the sole vegetarian in my Mexican American family for the last 25 years. Be proud, you may have an influence in the end. After 8 years together, my boyfriend is now a vegetarian. Never thought that would happen.

[Billie]

Saved a lot because everyone brought something to the table so the cost didn't fall on one person/family. I did the turkey, even though I don't eat meat, but I got an organic one from a nearby farm that is run in a humane fashion. I would never ever support the horror of the factory farm. I could not eat a turkey that had been cruelly tortured. I hope soon that a majority of people stop buying meat from these soulless despicable corporate factory farms so they will be forced to close down or change their evil ways.

[naschkatze]

By the way, here's to the state of California! They passed a proposition to make life more "humane" for farm animals, and I hope it becomes a fad across the country as so many things out of California do. Of course, the food producers will use it to raise prices more, but it would be worth it. When my daughter was in 4-H, our kids were taught that while the animals are here, we give them a good life, and when they go, it is quick and painless. I can't go vegetarian on my husband during the holidays, but come next year I am going to make an attempt to give up meat for ethical and health reasons.

[Topfeeder]

I could live without turkey. It is not a very flavorful meat and almost impossible to cook without drying it out. Lately I have only bought turkey breasts from free range birds and had much better luck.

[dozaa]

Yes, it's all about the sides! Mashed potatoes, meatless stuffing, corn, cranberry sauce, pie, who's missing the turkey? Not me!

[sonoffestus]

You're right, all the fixins and a rack of lamb, yum!