Soaring food prices hit Thanksgiving dinner plans

New York, November 23 (RHC)-- Food prices are soaring in the United States and that, news reports say, is affecting the annual celebration of Thanksgiving.  Since last Thanksgiving, grocery prices have jumped 13 percent in the United States, according to the latest Consumer Price Index data from the Bureau of Labour Statistics.  And just about every component of a traditional Thanksgiving meal has increased in price significantly over the last year.  That has added to the woes of Americans already struggling with stubbornly high inflation and is putting a dent in a holiday where the focus is food, family and friends.

The price of poultry, including turkey, has increased 16 percent.  Fresh produce, key to many a side dish, is up 9 percent. Boxed pasta is up 17 percent, and cheese 12 percent.  Canned fruits and vegetables, including those standards of the American Thanksgiving table, canned cranberry sauce and canned pumpkin, are up 19 percent.  Bread is up 15 percent. Coffee is up 15 percent.  The price of baked goods is up 16 percent.

Some discount grocery chains in the United States have taken steps to ensure that business does not slump during the holidays as prices continue to climb.  The U.S. outlets of Aldi, the German grocery store chain, are doing a promotion in November called “Thanksgiving Price Rewind”, in which they have rolled back prices for holiday appetisers, desserts, sides, and beverages to their 2019 levels — in some cases, up to 30 percent off. “Why not attempt that additional side dish this year, or invite over a few more friends or family members?” said Dave Rinaldi, president of ALDI US, in a press release on November 1.

Kelli Jones of Pittsburgh, a cashier at an Aldi store there, said that she rang up $7,000 in groceries on Sunday during a four-hour shift at the register.  “Grocery retail is bonkers the week leading up to Thanksgiving,” she said. “Customers are arguing with us over coupons and limits on butter and the way the receipt shows the markdown on the turkeys.  But some are great — I got a fist bump and a pat on the back from a man when I helped him find his food stamp balance.   So, there were high points.”