Categories: Jills Blog
      Date: Dec  9, 2009
     Title: Happy Thanksgiving

It appears there’s a survey for everything, as I witnessed today when I came across the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Thanksgiving market basket, a survey of the cost of a complete holiday dinner. The AFBF has been tracking the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people since 1986. It’s an informal survey; shoppers in 35 states are asked to record the price they pay for 12 items related to the feast including the turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie mix and fresh cranberries. The AFBF reports that the cost this year is $42.91, down from $44.61 last year. Since 1986 the real cost of Thanksgiving dinner has decreased over time. According to the Consumer Price Index data the cost in 1986, which was $28.74, is equivalent to $56.69 in today’s dollars. Not only that, at $3.75 per person that’s less than a fast-food meal! In these difficult financial times, that’s something to be thankful for.