One thing many families may not be thankful for come this Nov. 24 is the price of food.
Inflation continues to gobble up more of our paychecks, with the latest federal data showing grocery prices are up 8.2% over the last year.
And that’s just an overall figure. Specific Thanksgiving staples have seen even steeper price increases.
As you plan your Thanksgiving meal, be prepared to spend more on or find substitutes for the following items — or simply leave them off this year’s menu.
1. Butter
It’s hard to imagine a Thanksgiving meal without butter — everything from stuffing to pie and cornbread to mashed potatoes uses the stuff, and it’s commonly in many other popular recipes.
As of Oct. 28, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported the average advertised price for 1 pound of butter at major supermarkets nationwide was $4.65, an increase of 38% compared with a year ago ($3.36).
2. Eggs
As with butter, eggs feature in a wide variety of holiday baked goods — not to mention those delicious deviled eggs.
The average advertised price of a 12-pack carton of USDA Grade A large white eggs is up to $3.99, a brain-scrambling increase of almost 217% from a year ago ($1.26).
3. Cranberries
Pass the cranberry sauce, even if it is pricey.
The typical 12-ounce bag of the berries this year will run about $2.62, according to the latest USDA data. That’s a 14% increase over last year at this time ($2.29).
4. Potatoes
Who isn’t grateful for a plateful of these carbs on Thanksgiving? However you prepare them, though, expect to pay more.
The average price per pound of Russet potatoes is up to $1.26, about a 30% increase from one year ago (97 cents).
The per-pound price of other varieties of potato tracked by USDA are up, too.
5. Turkey
Sadly, the holiday centerpiece has also been a victim of inflation.
The average price of a whole frozen turkey is up to $1.47 per pound for hens (female turkeys) and $1.30 for toms (males), increases of about 28% and 15% from last year ($1.15 and $1.13), respectively.
To learn more about the trouble with turkey this year, check out “10 Groceries That Are in Short Supply — or Soon May Be.”
6. Ham
For those who prefer pork to poultry on Thanksgiving or think they might save by switching this year, the news is worse.
The average cost per pound of a spiral ham has spiraled to $3.45, a 32% jump from a year ago ($2.62).
7. Apples
And what to serve to top off the meal? Good ol’ apple pie? Many varieties of apples commonly used for baking are more expensive this year.
Granny Smith apples currently go for $1.38 per pound, on average, an increase of about 6% from $1.30. The classic honeycrisp variety is $2.11 per pound, up about 8% from $1.96.
8. Pumpkins (the type used for pie)
While the average price of all types of pumpkins combined has declined since last year, the type most important for Thanksgiving — the ones used for making pie — is up dramatically.
The per-pound price of pie-type pumpkins is $1.43, an increase that might put you out of your gourd — they’re up almost 147% from a year ago (58 cents).
9. Sweet potatoes
There’s nothing sweet about the nearly 9% price increase sweet potatoes have seen since last year, when the average price per pound was 94 cents. It’s now $1.02 per pound.
Foods that haven’t increased dramatically in price
Many things this year are more expensive, but there’s still plenty to be grateful for.
The average price of ice cream declined slightly from a year ago, so your apple pie a la mode will be even sweeter.
We found that federal data shows 8-ounce blocks of some cheeses are cheaper versus a year ago, as is a half-gallon of milk.
And the average price of green beans has shifted up by only 1 cent per pound since last year, which is sure to make some folks jolly.
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