Lake County Gazette

Illinois State Sen. Dan McConchie (R - Hawthorn Woods) shared information on inflation's negative impact on Thanksgiving dinner prices in a Facebook post published on Friday.

"The historically high inflation is going to impact families this holiday season starting with Thanksgiving dinner," McConchie said. "So many Thanksgiving staples are seeing double-digit inflation increases!"

The post also featured a graphic provided by Illinois Senate Republicans displaying the various price increases for each Thanksgiving staple, such as turkey, ham, and canned vegetables.

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) summary, published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics on Nov. 10, revealed that prices rose by 0.4% in October, bringing the 12-month inflation rate to 7.7% before seasonal adjustment. Over the last year, the cost of food at home increased by 10.9%, while the cost of food away from home increased by 12.4%.

According to Heartlander News, the 2022 national average price for turkey is $28.96, a 21% increase from 2021. Furthermore, the 137th annual American Farm Bureau Federation's Thanksgiving cost survey revealed that the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal for 10 people is $65.53 in Illinois, marking a 12.7% increase from 2021's average of $58.15. In addition, the cost of cubed bread stuffing has also risen almost 70% in the past year. Illinois Farm Bureau senior economist Mike Doherty attributed 2022's expensive Thanksgiving meals to overall inflation. “Inflation [means] the general rise of all costs of everything we’re buying,” said Doherty. “Labor, transportation, energy costs, packaging costs, they’re all going up.”

McConchie recently hosted a "Turkey and Ham Giveaway" for local families, celebrating the event in a Facebook post published on Saturday.

"We’re ready for our first turkey and ham giveaway!" McConchie said. "Thanks to our volunteers that are braving the cold to serve with us today!"