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Food prices are up, but there are deals for Thanksgiving turkeys

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Staff Report 8:56 PM Tuesday, November 22, 2011

On this the fourth Thanksgiving since the economy sank, prices for everything from airline flights to groceries are going up, and some are scaling back. Yet in many households, the occasion is too important to skimp on.

Said one mother: “I don’t have much to give, but I’ll be cooking, and the door will be open.”

Thanksgiving airfares are up 20 percent this year, and the average price of a gallon of gas has risen almost 20 percent, according to travel tracker AAA. Still, about 42.5 million people are expected to travel, the highest number since the start of the recession.

But even those who choose to stay home and cook for themselves will probably spend more. A 16-pound turkey and all the trimmings will cost an average of $49.20, a 13 percent jump from last year, or about $5.73 more, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation, which says grocers have raised prices to keep pace with higher-priced commodities.

The average cost of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner has risen for the three consecutive years, according to the federation.

The AFBF’s shopping list included a turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray with carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream and beverages of coffee and milk.

Dan Remley, OSU Extension director, said families will experience the biggest savings by preparing things from scratch.

“It takes more time, but it is definitely more economical,” Remley said. “That’s one thing we always recommend.

“It also helps because you can control the amounts of fat and sugar,” he continued. “And large amounts of food also mean leftovers, which can help stretch a food budget over time.”

Remley also emphasized the importance of a budget when it comes to shopping.

“During the holidays, there is a tendency to overbuy,” Remley said. “We recommend people have a plan when shopping and stay within your budget. Talk to family members to see what preferences they have so you don’t waste food, and also be aware of what items you may already have so you don’t buy something you don’t need.”

Skip Weaver and the Associated Press contributed to this story.

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