Bird flu outbreak sees turkey prices soar for Thanksgiving
The average cost of Thanksgiving dinner in the U.S. this year will rise to a record level, topping US$50 for the first time, as turkey prices jump 6.4 per cent after the worst outbreak ever of avian influenza wiped out millions of the birds, a farm group said.
The 12 items typically served during the holiday meal will rise 1.4 per cent to an average US$50.11 for 10 people from US$49.41 in 2014, the American Farm Bureau Federation in Washington said Thursday in a statement. A turkey weighing 16 pounds (7.3 kilograms) will increase to US$23.04 from US$21.65. Sweet potatoes, rolls, stuffing and pumpkin-pie mix and shells were up one cent to eight cents, according to a survey by 138 volunteer shoppers in 32 states.
Bird flu destroyed more than 7.7 million turkeys earlier this year, government data show. The farm bureau said a gallon of whole milk will drop 14 per cent to US$3.25, and the bill will be lower by three cents to 30 cents for whipping cream, fresh cranberries, green peas, miscellaneous ingredients and a relish tray with carrots and celery. U.S. Thanksgiving is on Nov. 26.
“Retail prices seem to have stabilized quite a bit for turkey, which is the centrepiece of the meal in our market basket,” John Anderson, the farm group’s deputy chief economist, said in the statement. “Despite concerns earlier this fall about pumpkin production due to wet weather, the supply of canned product will be adequate for this holiday season.”
Frozen tom turkeys were advertised at an average of 87 cents a pound at 20,070 supermarkets in the week ended Nov. 19, down from 93 cents a year earlier, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Many supermarkets are offering frozen turkey for close to 49 cents a pound as part of annual promotions to attract Thanksgiving shoppers, the National Turkey Federation said Wednesday in a statement.