Full belly, empty wallet: How expensive has it become for us to celebrate Thanksgiving?
From the hiking gas prices to the rising cost of turkeys, this may be the most expensive Thanksgiving yet.
In Virginia, the average cost of a traditional meal for 10 will be $63.66, according to the Farm Bureau. That includes things like turkey, ham, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberries, rolls, and pumpkin pie. That’s also a 5.52% increase from last year’s average Thanksgiving dinner ($60.33).
Turkeys themselves have seen a significant increase, costing an average of $25.17 for a 16-pound turkey. Last year a 16-pound turkey averaged $22.40.
An array of factors has led to the rising cost of food. In addition to inflation, supply chain issues have caused interruption in the supply of food to the grocery stores. Labor shortages and increasing demand have also contributed to the rise of food prices, as well as higher transportation expenses. On top of that, hurricanes and droughts have crippled the country’s crop, citrus and sugar supply.
“Several factors contributed to the increase in average cost of this year’s Thanksgiving dinner,” said American Farm Bureau Federation Senior Economist Veronica Nigh in a press release. “These include dramatic disruptions to the U.S. economy and supply chains over the last 20 months; inflationary pressure throughout the economy; difficulty in predicting demand during the COVID-19 pandemic and high global demand for food, particularly meat,” she said.
The rising cost of food has had a more poignant effect on some more than others.
Thanksgiving for Sharlei Graves, 29, of Petersburg, has always been a whole family affair. Extended family and distant cousins joined in. Even neighbors could get a plate of food. But with the continued threat of COVID-19 and having lost her job earlier this year, her family made the decision to keep the celebration small. This year, she'll just be joining her siblings and their families for Thanksgiving, with everyone bringing a couple dishes to share.
"We can’t have an extended family celebration," Graves said. "We can’t afford to cook as much as we usually do. We gotta feed our immediate family first. This year with everything costing so much it’s been hard. It definitely has affected me a lot. But as we always do, we’re going to make do and celebrate because it’s the holidays."
Like Graves, Ashley Sanchez and her husband have felt the burden of rising costs.
"$200 at Target would last me two weeks," Sanchez said. "Now I can’t spend less than $325 and I'm buying the same thing. It’s ridiculous. We’re not going to change the way we celebrate Thanksgiving so we’re just going to bite the bullet."
In addition, gas is the highest it’s been in 7 years. Nationwide, the average cost is $3.41 a gallon, up from $2.12 a gallon just a year ago. With the hike in gas prices, traveling to see loved ones will no longer be feasible for some, who have had to rearrange their holiday plans.
Ebone White, 36, of North Chesterfield, says the spike in gas is going to prevent her mom’s side of the family, most of whom live in Georgia, from coming to Virginia to celebrate with her dad’s side.
"It's too expensive for them to travel," White said. Normally, it’s tradition for them to come to Virginia. Instead, her cousin is going to video them in on Thanksgiving. In terms of the dinner itself, the increase in price won’t change much.
“If I plan to do it I’m just gonna do it,” White added.
Thanksgiving plans for others remain unchanged.
Bren, 54, the owner of a local BP gas station, says he feels unaffected by inflation, and is still spending about the same amount of money that he usually does on groceries. His Thanksgiving plans will be unaffected.
"Inflation hasn’t been hard. I haven’t thought much about it," he said. "If I need something then I need it. We still celebrate like we always do, we still enjoy. We still host parties every week. But if I can afford it, it’s not that everyone can afford it."
For Denise Tipton, 54, of Petersburg, her Thanksgiving will also stay the same. She doesn't need to worry about family traveling to see her since all her kids live near her.
"Gas has definitely gone up. If I was going to be traveling that would be a problem," she said. "Inflation hasn’t changed anything this year. I think that’s going to change next year. But I don’t drive anywhere or do anything. The Dollar Tree went up to $1.25. Little things like that are starting to make a difference."
Joyce Chu is the Social Justice Watchdog Reporter for The Progress Index. Contact her at Jchu1@gannett.com or on Twitter @joyce_speaks.
This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Is inflation going to affect people’s Thanksgiving plans?
