China News Service, November 20th (China News Finance reporter Xie Yiguan) Thanksgiving, a traditional Western holiday, is approaching. Under the double pressure of inflation and bird flu this year, American families may have to pay more for a big dinner. cost.

Cost of Thanksgiving dinner may hit record high

　　How expensive is American Thanksgiving dinner this year?

The average cost of a Thanksgiving meal for 10 people this year has risen about 20 percent to $64.05, from an average of $53.31 last year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation's 37th annual survey.

　　According to Reuters, this is the largest increase since the organization conducted a survey on the cost of Thanksgiving dinner in 1986.

　　Take the main course turkey on the Thanksgiving table. A 16-pound turkey costs $28.96, up 21% from last year.

Data map: Turkey.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Chen Mengtong

　　But it wasn't the Thanksgiving food that saw the biggest jump.

According to survey data, a 14-ounce bag of cubed stuffing mix has reached $3.88, up 69% year-over-year.

　　On this Thanksgiving shopping list, other foods have also increased to varying degrees.

For example, two frozen pie crusts and half pints of whipped cream are up 26%, 1 pound of frozen peas is up 23%, 1 dozen dinner rolls are up 22%, and 30-ounce cans of pumpkin pie mix are up 18%. A gallon of whole milk is up 16%.

　　In addition to these, the price of eggs, which are common on American tables, has also risen sharply.

　　A dozen Grade A eggs sold for an average of $2.28 in the second week of November, more than double last year's price, according to USDA data, according to the Associated Press.

These Factors Are Making Thanksgiving Food More Expensive

　　"Generalized inflation, which has eroded consumers' purchasing power, was a big factor in the increase in the average cost of a Thanksgiving dinner this year," said Roger Klein, chief economist at the American Farm Bureau Federation.

　　Since the beginning of this year, the monthly CPI in the United States has remained at a high level of 7% to 9%.

The latest statistics from the US Department of Labor show that in October, the US CPI rose by 7.7% year-on-year, of which food prices rose by 10.9%.

Food price inflation this year is at its highest level since 1979, although growth slowed slightly in October.

　　In addition to inflation, Roger Klein said, "The supply chain disruptions and the Ukraine crisis are among the factors contributing to the rise in Thanksgiving meal prices this year."

　　As for the higher retail turkey prices at grocery stores, Roger Klein attributed that to slightly smaller flocks this year, higher feed costs and lighter processing weights.

　　The highly pathogenic bird flu virus has led to the culling of 49 million turkeys and other poultry in 46 states this year, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said, according to the Associated Press.

　　Also affected by the bird flu epidemic is the price of eggs.

Egg prices surged 10% in October, the biggest monthly gain for groceries, according to U.S. Labor Department statistics.

Data map: A customer passes by the egg container of a supermarket in San Mateo County, California, USA.

Photo by China News Agency reporter Liu Guanguan

Christmas next month will also be affected

　　The soaring prices will not only affect the Thanksgiving dinner, but also people who celebrate Christmas abroad will feel the pressure brought about by rising food prices.

　　According to the news from PR Newswire, according to the latest results of WorldRemit Christmas Cost Study, households around the world will spend 156% of their monthly income on Christmas expenses this year, covering festive meals, general gift consumption and decorations.

　　The findings mentioned that in the 14 countries observed in 2021 and 2022, the increase in the cost of Christmas was mainly attributable to the sharp increase in food prices.

The findings also show that of the five developed countries observed, the UK has seen the greatest change in costs, with prices rising by more than 60% year-on-year, mainly due to inflation.

　　According to data recently released by the Office for National Statistics of the United Kingdom, the CPI in the United Kingdom rose by 11.1% year-on-year in October, and the increase hit a new high in 40 years.

Among them, the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages have risen for 15 consecutive months. In October, they rose by 16.4% year-on-year, the highest increase since September 1977.

　　According to the British "Daily Telegraph", the latest figures from Kantar show that as of the end of October, the number of people buying Christmas puddings has dropped by a third compared with last year.

　　As an important food on the table, the British have even lost "egg freedom".

Egg shortages and rationing in the UK are expected to continue beyond Christmas, an industry group has warned, as the poultry industry grapples with rising costs and Europe's worst ever outbreak of bird flu, the Guardian reported.

　　According to CNN, financial services company PNC recently released its 39th annual Christmas Price Index.

Prices for more than a dozen items listed in the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" hit an all-time high of $45,523.27 this year, up 10.5 percent from last year.

The prices of French hens and turtledoves mentioned in it rose by 25% and 33.3% respectively year-on-year.

　　In the face of rising food prices, people who celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas this year may want to prepare more for the festival.

(Finish)

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