The cost of Thanksgiving dinner could make wallets a little lighter this holiday, according to the latest Wisconsin Farm Bureau Marketbasket Survey.
The results released last week show that the statewide total cost for turkey and all the fixings for a family of 10 was $50.86, compared with $48.40 in 2013. The state cost is above the national average, $49.41.
In Shawano, one of more than 30 communities surveyed by the Farm Bureau, the price appears to be even higher. The local surveyor found the total cost for dinner was $58.62, with much of the higher cost attributed to the main dish — turkey.
The local surveyor reported the total cost for turkey was $30.24 for a 16-pound bird. Comparatively, shoppers across the state could expect to spend about $23.36 for a turkey, and nationwide, the cost is $21.65.
However, the surveys are usually done at one store, according to Farm Bureau officials, so prices might be different depending on where someone shops. Shawano’s totals have fluctuated over the last couple years, with the 2013 total cost coming in at $47.65 and 2012 at $55.26.
Other trends include:
— Shawano shoppers are paying more for dairy products, compared with others in the state. A gallon of milk cost $4.59 in Shawano when the survey was taken, compared with the state average of $4.04. A half-pint of whipped cream cost $2.19 locally, compared with $1.81 for the state.
— Vegetable dishes are lower for Shawano shoppers than the state average. Sweet potatoes cost $2.67 for a 3-pound bag locally, while green peas came in at $1.59. The statewide averages for both vegetables are $3.39 and $1.68, respectively.
— Making pumpkin pie for dessert is slightly less for Shawano shoppers compared with state trends. A 30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix costs more locally at $3.35, compared with $3.22 for the state. However, the pie shells are much cheaper locally at $1.89 for a two-pack, while the state average is $2.31.
Two main factors are responsible for the statewide uptick in food prices, according to Farm Bureau spokeswoman Amy Eckelberg. One is the strong year the dairy industry experienced, which impacted dairy prices.
“This survey is catching the end of that wave,” Eckelberg said. “Looking ahead, all indications are that dairy prices will be on the decline for 2015.”
The other factor is a higher demand for beef and pork, but not turkey, which caused the price of the main dish to increase.
“(With) tight supplies and the demand on beef and pork, there’s a lot of stressors on those two right now,” Eckelberg said. “With turkey, there’s not as much.”
Jamie Patton, Shawano County agriculture agent for the University of Wisconsin-Extension, said Wednesday that while the increase in dairy products was a factor in the total dinner cost, the price of other Thanksgiving items increased more in comparison.
“We’re only looking at 10-20 cents increase over the cost of fluid milk and whipping cream,” Patton said.
The cost could have been higher if not for a drop in fuel prices, Patton said. The cost of transporting food from the farm to the store is often a key factor in food prices.
Eckelberg noted that the overall food costs, especially for turkey, were expected to drop closer to Thanksgiving, as the Marketbasket Survey is usually done in October to provide sufficient time to analyze the results.
“The deals right before the season, you see a really big difference,” she said.
Grocery stores tend to drop the turkey prices below cost around Thanksgiving in order to attract shoppers, and they make up the difference with the purchase of the other foods, Patton said.
“Oftentimes, they’re losing money on the turkey just to draw us in,” she said. “Lucky for us, they take in a little less for the turkey so we can all spend a little less for our meal.”
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