Thanksgiving staples cost more in 2019
Putting potatoes and turkey on the table this Thanksgiving will cost more this year, but the cost of driving to your destination fell significantly. The cost of potatoes — the Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn't track sweet potatoes — rose 8.9% in the year ended Oct. 31, driven by an increased demand for chips and french fries. According to a report from Potato News Today, Canadian demand for potatoes rose 34% in the third quarter. Overall exports of fresh potatoes were up 17% year-over-year globally. The cost of making them taste creamy and delicious didn't rise, accordingly, however, as butter only rose about 0.7% this year.
While the BLS reported that poultry excluding chicken rose 3.5% from 2018, a survey from the American Farm Bureau reported that the average price of a 16-pound turkey fell 91 cents. BLS-shunned sweet potatoes will cost about 12 cents more per pound this year, according to the same survey.
The U.S. average per gallon price of gasoline fell to $2.95 from $3.13 over the 12-month period and is currently $2.93. Flying somewhere? That cost is up 1.5% from last year.
