As many University students travel home this week for Thanksgiving, their families will be paying 9 percent more to prepare the traditional holiday meal.
LSU AgCenter family economist Jeanette Tucker, who annually conducts a survey of Thanksgiving food costs, said a typical Thanksgiving meal will cost about $48 this year, which is about $4 more expensive than in 2012.
The survey checked prices in three Baton Rouge stores earlier this month, and the shopping list included items such as turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, cranberries and pumpkin pie mix.
The largest price increase this year is turkey, which costs 23 cents per pound more than last year. A 16-pound turkey costs nearly $4 more.
Tucker said high turkey prices are likely a result of increased production costs. While the price of grains fed to turkeys has decreased slightly, transportation costs — particularly fuel — remain historically high. Additionally, turkey production is down 2 percent this year, although there is an ample supply in storage, she said.
Many stores offer specials on turkeys to attract shoppers and get them to buy more items. That is not just a marketing tactic, however. Tucker said turkey is a great buy because there is no other lean meat available at that price.
Still, Thanksgiving dinner is an expensive meal because it is made up of multiple pieces.
“It’s not a one-pot meal like spaghetti or jambalaya with a low-cost starch base,” Tucker said.
According to American Farm Bureau data, however, Thanksgiving dinner in 1986 cost about $60 in 2013 dollars when adjusted for inflation. Food prices have increased, but only somewhat when compared to the cost of gasoline or college education, Tucker said.
Tucker said the AgCenter’s survey is for a generic dinner that could be eaten nationwide, meaning it does not account for regional or family likes and dislikes.
In Louisiana, “we’re accustomed to a very bountiful feast,” she said — for example, many people prefer oyster dressing to less-expensive cornbread dressing. Similarly, families that like pecan pie will pay more than those that make pumpkin pie using a canned mix.
Tucker advises shoppers to not only plan ahead and have a list, but to be flexible to take advantage of deals they come across. Being an active shopper is important — use coupons, check store ads and don’t shop when hungry or tired. Also, look high and low on store shelves, Tucker said. The most expensive products are often placed at eye level.
Students can take advantage of holiday grocery sales to buy satsumas, sweet potatoes and other Louisiana-grown foods that can be taken home to share with family at the holidays. The farther away home is, the bigger novelties these items become, Tucker said.