Consumer Food Insights Report: Thanksgiving dinner tradition continues

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Most Americans will enjoy a special Thanksgiving meal this year, according to the October 2023 Consumer Food Insights Report out of Purdue University.

“We found that 79% of consumers plan on celebrating the holiday with a Thanksgiving meal while 13% do not and 9% are unsure,” said Joseph Balagtas, professor of agricultural economics at Purdue.

Of those celebrating with a meal, 37% plan to host, 43% plan to attend and 5% plan to eat out. The remaining 14% are unsure of their Thanksgiving meal plans.

Other report highlights:

• Retail prices for whole turkeys are down 10% to 15% from last year’s record high prices, as turkey production has recovered from the avian influenza outbreak.

• Price inflation remains a concern for consumers.

• Thanksgiving staples like turkey, green beans, gravy and stuffing will be common meal components in all regions; however, cornbread, ham, and macaroni and cheese are more likely to appear in the South.

• Average weekly spending is highest in the Northeast region, at $201, and lowest in the Midwest, at $177.

• 13.3% of households were food insecure in October, the lowest reading recorded through the first 10 months of 2023.

• The prevalence of food insecurity is highest in the South, followed by the Midwest, Northeast and West.

“It’s a good thing that the food insecurity rate is down from the higher rates we saw in the spring and summer,” Balagtas said.

“But as many of us get ready to celebrate Thanksgiving, this is a reminder that approximately one in eight Americans lack consistent access to adequate food.”

Read the complete report at https://tinyurl.com/5x8bvzmu.