Wisconsin Ag Connection - Thanksgiving Meal in Wisconsin to Cost About $50.86

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Thanksgiving Meal in Wisconsin to Cost About $50.86
Wisconsin Ag Connection - 11/21/2014

Unlike last year, your Thanksgiving meal will likely cost a bit more to prepare this year. According to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, a traditional holiday meal for a family of ten will cost around $50.86--which is up $2.46 from last year's average. The annual survey had been inching higher for each of the past nine years, with the exception of 2009 and 2013 when lower dairy brought the average down.

The Madison-based farm group conducted its survey of 12 food items of the traditional Thanksgiving meal in 23 communities across Wisconsin. Communications Coordinator Amy Eckelberg says the retail cost of the turkey, cranberries and pumpkin pie was about five percent more expensive this year. Higher milk and dairy product prices also contributed to the price hike.

"Strong international demand for dairy products in 2014 meant a profitably year for Wisconsin's dairy farm families," Eckelberg said. "The survey is catching what is likely the tail-end of a wave of high dairy prices... as all indications are that dairy prices will decline in 2015."

Sweet potatoes, green peas and ingredients were also up a bit this year, while rolls, cube stuffing and relish trays had bigger savings in Wisconsin supermarkets.

Meanwhile, the American Farm Bureau also released its survey of the same 12 items for a traditional Thanksgiving Day meal at $49.41. That was 37-cents more than in 2013.

On the national level, sweet potatoes, dairy products, pumpkin pie mix, sweet potatoes and of green peas all rang up higher at the cash register. But turkey, cubed bread stuffing, fresh cranberries, pie shells and a dozen brown-n-serve rolls saw modest decreases from 2013.

The USDA says Americans will spend approximately 10 percent of their disposable annual income on food this year, which is the lowest average in the world. The Wisconsin Farm Bureau notes that the farmer's share of this year's Thanksgiving meal would be around $8.13

Wisconsin communities that took part in the survey include Algoma, Appleton, Beloit, De Pere, Eau Claire, Edgerton, Fond du Lac, Hillsboro, Manawa, Marshfield, Medford, Menomonie, Mequon, New Richmond, Platteville, Plover, Richland Center, Saukville, Shawano, Sparta, Union Grove, Watertown and West Bend.

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