Thanksgiving dinner is going to be more expensive this year, leaving many Americans seeking alternative ways to celebrate.
From bird flu reducing the supply of turkeys, to California’s drought shrinking vegetable yields and a labor shortage impacting workers available to process and transport food, prices are up across the board, Wells Fargo Chief Agricultural Economist Michael Swanson said. Turkeys now cost $1.99 a pound in parts of the country, compared to $1.15 a pound a year ago, according to the USDA. And sides have also seen a dramatic increase, with potatoes up 18%, canned fruit and vegetables up 19% and butter up 27% over last year, according to September inflation data.
A survey by online financial adviser Personal Capital said 1 in 5 Americans doubted whether they would have enough money to cover the cost of Thanksgiving this year. They said they are cutting back by hosting smaller dinners, eliminating at least one dish to save money, and asking guests to bring their own alcoholic beverages.
