Turkey Prices May Gobble Up More of Your Money

A turkey dinner may cost you a little extra this Thanksgiving.  Thousands of birds were infected with bird flu earlier this year.  As a result, millions of birds were culled in multiple states, including millions of turkeys that were being raised in preparation for the Thanksgiving season.

Corinne Alexander, an agricultural economist at Purdue University, said she expects turkey prices to be 15 percent to 20 percent higher than last year.  This price increase is much larger than typical as a result of the avian influenza outbreak that affected turkey flocks earlier this year.

Alexander said the turkey price increase can quickly add up for families on a budget.  For these families, any food price rise is significant.  We should remember those who are less fortunate and share our food bounty.

The price for an average turkey is expected to rise to $1.31 or $1.37 per pound this year, according to the USDA.