The Cost Of A Thanksgiving Meal Is Up From Last Year

The cost of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner went up a little this year.

The Wisconsin Farm Bureau says that a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 will cost about $50.86 in 2014. That’s 5 percent more than last year, and a $1.45 more than the national average. Farmers will only see about 16 cents of every dollar spent.

Farm Bureau Spokeswoman Amy Eckelberg said that a lot of factors go into the price of food.

“A huge part of it is energy, transportation, (and) packaging,” she said.

Nevertheless Eckelburg said the price makes a traditional turkey dinner a better buy than less wholesome fare.

“It’s hard to even find a good value meal in the drive-through for about $5,” said Eckelberg. “So, still not bad when it comes down to price.”

The Farm Bureau said the biggest factor driving up the cost of dinner this year was dairy prices. Dairy farmers this year are enjoying record-high milk prices.

Here’s a breakdown of the cost of a Thanksgiving meal this year versus last year: