vacation shoppers can expect less - expensiveturkeysand moderate price growth on other Thanksgiving staple fibre this vacation season . In the U.S. , fair annual food for thought damage inflation is about 2.5 percentage , but this yr , intellectual nourishment prices are run just 1 percent in high spirits than 2012 prices .
“ There ’s a peck of good news out there for the consumer . Food price inflation is very down this class , ” says Corinne Alexander , associate professor at Purdue ’s Department of Agricultural Economics and grain - marketing specialist .
For the items most commonly tie in with Thanksgiving meal , Alexander says some prices will be up a bit and others will be down slightly .
“ We ’re expecting the overall Thanksgiving repast to be roughly the same price as last year , and potentially calculate on what form of in - fund specials are being bid , you might even spend less this year than you did last yr on Thanksgiving , ” she says .
Turkey , the principal token on many Thanksgiving dinner menus , should be consumers less this year . The USDA predicts that sweeping price for easterly - food market whole turkeys will be between $ 1 and $ 1.06 per pound in the fourth quarter , compare with $ 1.06 per pound in 2012 .
It ’s important for consumers to remember that the way sweeping prices interpret to retail prices reckon on individual retailers , Alexander say . The actual cost paid also will vary depending on whether a shopper chooses a whole turkey or turkey parts ; frozen or fresh wench ; sassy , precooked or complete turkey meals ; blade names ; and the value of fund coupons and price specials . Often grocers will offer turkeys at a cryptic bank discount to encourage shoppers to purchase their other Thanksgiving product .
“ Because turkey is a favorite loss leader , that ’s one of those detail where savvy shoppers can seem to coupons and store special to really find the secure monetary value possible for their Thanksgiving turkey , and then the rest of the items for their Thanksgiving meal , ” she say .
Prices for other Thanksgiving raw material will be a bit of a sundry bag . Cranberryprices are expected to be on par with last year — an abundant crop should keep prices from increase , while strong need will keep them from decreasing . unfermented potatoesare expected to be consumers about 10 per centum more than they did in 2012 . ashen - potato prices also are up by about 15 percent this year compared with the record low price last year .
On medium , Americans spend about 10 pct of their incomes for food . Alexander says that the below - average price increases this twelvemonth could mean there ’s way in the family budget to add treats to the holiday repast , though increasing energy cost will also be an economic factor . Consumers will make up more for energy when train their Thanksgiving spread than they did in 2012 . Natural gun Price have increased by about 5 percentage and electricity prices by about 3 pct since last fall . However , those locomote for a vacation meal will get some relief at the ticker . Gasoline prices are down about 8 percent compared to last year .
