The Cost of the Average American Thanksgiving

The cost of an American Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people is $42.26, according to the American Farm Bureau. This is up $4.16 from last year, when the cost was $38.10.

In 1986, the Farm Bureau invented a "survey menu" based on what the typical American eats for Thanksgiving, and then every year they send out volunteer shoppers to purchase these items to get the average.

While the cost of the Thanksgiving dinner has increased in real dollars, it has actually gone down from 1986 when factoring in inflation.

The AFB menu breakdown of costs is as follows:

16-pound turkey ........... $17.63
Cube stuffing, 14 oz. ........... $2.40
Pumpkin pie mix, 30 oz. ............ $2.13
Pie shells (2) ........... $2.08
Sweet potatoes, 3 lbs. ........... $3.08
Rolls, 12 ........... $1.89
Green peas, 1 lb. ........... $1.46
1 pound relish tray ........... $.66
Milk, 1 gallon ........... $3.88
Fresh cranberries, 12 oz. ........... $2.20
Cream, 1/2 pint ........... $1.56
Misc ingredients ........... $3.29

For more information, read the American Farm Bureau press release.

Photo from stock. Used with permission.