COVID-19 Sends Thanksgiving Meal Costs Soaring In PA, Nationwide

PENNSYLVANIA — This Thanksgiving could provide full bellies but considerably lighter wallets given the rising cost of food in Pennsylvania and across the country. The American Farm Bureau Federation's 36th annual Thanksgiving survey indicates the average cost of a typical holiday meal for 10 is $53.31 - a 14 percent increase from last year's average of $46.90.

That's due in no small part to skyrocketing turkey costs. According to the farm bureau, a 16-pound bird's average cost is $23.99 - about $1.50 per pound, a 24 percent rise over last year's price.

But prices for other items on the meal menu also have risen. Foundation senior economist Veronica Nigh cited disruptions to the nation's economy and supply chains over the past 20 months, inflation, difficulty in predicting demand during the pandemic and a higher global demand for meat worldwide.

Additionally, “The trend of consumers cooking and eating at home more often due to the pandemic led to increased supermarket demand and higher retail food prices in 2020 and 2021, compared to pre-pandemic prices in 2019,” Nigh said in a release.

Items purchased by volunteer shoppers for the foundation's survey included turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and coffee and milk. The purchases were made with the goal of serving a gathering of 10 and also having plenty of leftovers.

The cost for those items hasn't risen as drastically as turkey prices. Here's what the foundation shoppers paid for the meal and how much prices have risen for individual items:

• 16-pound turkey: $23.99 or approximately $1.50 per pound (up 24 percent)
• 2 frozen pie crusts: $2.91 (up 20 percent)
• 30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix: $3.64 (up 7 percent)
• Half pint of whipping cream: $1.78 (up 2 percent)
• 1 dozen dinner rolls: $3.05 (up 15 percent)
• 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries: $2.98 (up 11 percent)
• 1 gallon of whole milk: $3.30 (up 7 percent)
• 1 pound of frozen peas: $1.54 (up 6 percent)
• 3 pounds of sweet potatoes: $3.56 (up 4 percent)
• 1-pound veggie tray (carrots & celery): 82 cents (up 12 percent)
• Misc. ingredients to prepare the meal: $3.45 (up 12 percent)
• 14-ounce bag of cubed stuffing mix: $2.29 (down 19 percent)

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