[NYTr] Thanksgiving dinner cost 'up 11%'

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

BBC - 16 November 2007
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/business/7097981.stm

Thanksgiving dinner cost 'up 11%'

US consumers will pay 11% more for their traditional Thanksgiving meal
next Thursday than they did last year, a study has suggested.

The American Farm Bureau Federation found that cooking a dinner for 10
with dishes such as turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie would cost $42.26
(£20.71).

The biggest contributor to the $4.16 rise was turkey, with a 16 lb
(7kg) bird having gone up $1.93 to $17.63.

The cost of feed for the birds and fuel to deliver them have risen
sharply.

Rising fuel and food prices were also strongly reflected in Thursday's
jump in US consumer prices.

The US Labor Department said its consumer price index rose by 0.3% in
October compared with September while core prices, which exclude the
volatile components of food and energy, climbed by 0.2%.

On a 12-month basis, consumer prices increased by 3.5% percent and core
prices by 2.2%.

'Wholesome value'

The consumer prices index is based on a broader basket of goods than
the figures from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF).

The AFBF shopping list included turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls
with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery,
pumpkin pie with whipped cream and coffee with milk.

It was keen to stress that Thanksgiving dinner is still reasonably
priced.

"Consumers can enjoy a wholesome, home-cooked turkey dinner for just
over $4 a person -- less than a typical fast-food meal," said AFBF
economist Jim Sartwelle.

Americans will celebrate Thanksgiving on 22 November.

© BBC MMVII