The LSU AgCenter says a basic Thanksgiving dinner in Baton Rouge will cost $1.49 less this year compared to 2010, a dip of 3.6%. A survey released Monday by the AgCenter says a turkey dinner for 10 with all the trimmings will cost $39.10 this year. The AgCenter based its holiday shopping list for the survey on one used by the American Farm Bureau Federation in its annual survey on holiday meal prices nationwide. The AFBF last week reported a turkey dinner for 10 this year is going to cost $43.47—13% more than last year and the biggest jump in holiday meal prices since 1990. You can read a full article on the AFBF report from the Los Angeles Times here. Details on the LSU AgCenter survey, meanwhile, can be found here. The LSU AgCenter and Farm Bureau surveys both looked for the best possible prices, without taking factoring in special promotional coupons or purchase deals. Research has shown, however, that four out of five Thanksgiving turkeys are sold on a holiday special. “This suggests that many consumers will probably purchase Thanksgiving turkeys for less than either survey reports,” says LSU AgCenter family economist Jeanette Tucker. The Farm Bureau survey was first conducted in 1986, when the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal for 10 was $28.74. According to Consumer Price Index data, the 1986 Thanksgiving meal would cost $59.50 in 2011 dollars, indicating the real cost of the holiday meal has actually decreased over time.
Today’s poll question: How much will you spend on Thanksgiving dinner this year?
