The average cost of a Thanksgiving Day meal has dropped both locally and nationally.
An annual survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation shows that this year’s average cost for a large Thanksgiving meal nationwide is $46.90, or less than five dollars per person. That number is a two-dollar reduction from last year’s average cost.
Here in Vermilion County, a Thanksgiving meal can be purchased for $44.04, which is down a dollar from last year’s average cost, but is six percent less than the national rate, according to the Vermilion County Farm Bureau’s Tom Fricke.
Fricke says retail turkey prices nationwide are at their lowest point since 2010, at $19.39 for a 16-pound bird. The Vermilion County price dropped 10 cents from last year, to 89 cents per pound, for a total of $14.24 – more than five dollars under the national price.
The Farm Bureau Federation’s Thanksgiving dinner survey was first conducted in 1986. The informal survey pro-vides a record of comparative holiday meal costs over the years. The Farm Bureau’s classic survey menu has remained unchanged since 1986 to allow for consistent price comparisons.
