Phoenix, AZ – The Arizona Farm Bureau, which does the annual survey, figures
the cash register tape for a dinner for 10 will run $44.17.
That's up $3.70 from last year. Spokeswoman Julie Murphree said
one factor is that farmers raised fewer birds this year.
(So, from a year ago, if production is down it goes back to that
whole supply and demand issue. So I think it will influence a
full-price turkey. And that's one of the reasons we've seen it do
that.)
Also up this year is the cost of milk. But that follows last
year's sharp price drop when the market was flooded. Murphree
said, though, there's some good news in all of this.
(Sharp shoppers with an eye for the bargains, they will
definitely beat the Arizona Farm Bureau market basket price for
Thanksgiving dinner for 10. And it's obvious because we don't
factor in coupons or store specials.)
Many supermarkets offer one or more brands of turkeys as loss
leaders in the week leading up to Thanksgiving, selling them
below costs in hopes of pulling shoppers into the store to buy
everything else. And chain stores also offer special deals to
those who hold their affinity cards. For Arizona Public Radio
this is Howard Fischer.