The Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner 2009

Photo: Swell Media | UpperCut Images | Getty Images Put this on your list of things to be thankful for this year: the average cost of this year’s turkey dinner and all the fixings will take a smaller bite out of your wallet. The cost of a Thanksgiving dinner has declined 4 percent from last year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual study. The AFBF has been conducting the informal price survey for 24 years, and estimates households can put a turkey dinner and all the fixings on the table this year for 10 guests for $42.91, or $1.70 less than 2008’s average price of $44.61. Click ahead to see how the costs break down per item. All costs are based on the prices collected by 200 volunteer shoppers from 35 states. The shoppers hunt for the least expensive prices, but do not take advantage of promotional coupons or other purchase deals. Full Story: This Year's Biggest Thanksgiving Leftover... CashBy Christina Cheddar BerkPosted 13 Nov 2009

2009 Cost: $18.65The centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal, the turkey, has declined in price this year. The AFBF estimates the cost of a 16-pound turkey at $18.65, or roughly $1.16 per pound. That’s a 3-cent decline per pound, or 44 cents a turkey, from last year.

Photo: Tomoko Inanami | Amana Images | Getty Images 2009 Cost: $2.69Milk, at $2.86 a gallon was the biggest contributor to the lower cost of this year’s meal. The price fell 92 cents from a year ago. But the cost of other items fell as well. A half pint of cream will cost $1.55 this year, compared with $1.70 a year ago. The average cost of miscellaneous ingredients such as onions, eggs, sugar, flour, butter and coffee fell 19 cents to $2.50 from $2.69 a year ago.

Photo: Lara Ferroni | FoodPix | Getty Images 2009 Cost: $2.65Some items will put a  slightly  bigger dent in your wallet. A 14-ounce package of cubed bread stuffing will cost $2.65 this year, compared with $2.57 a year ago.

Photo: Tom Grill | Iconica | Getty Images 2009 Cost: $3.12There was no change in the average cost of sweet potatoes. If you buy three pounds, they should cost about $3.12.

Photo: Purestock | Getty Images 2009 Cost: $1.58Heap on the peas! There’s no change in the estimated cost of this veggie from 2008. One pound will cost about $1.58, according to the AFBF.

Foodie Photography | FoodPix | Getty Images 2009 Cost: $2.46What’s a turkey without cranberry sauce? No need to skip this side. Cranberry prices have fallen, bringing the cost of this item down 5 cents to $2.46.

Photo: Jamie Grill | Photodisc | Getty Images 2009 Cost: $0.72Give your guests something to munch on while the turkey is in the oven. The average cost of a relish tray of carrots and celery has fallen 10 cents to 72 cents from 82 cents a year ago.

2009 Cost: $2.45Pumpkin pie will be a bigger splurge this year, with both the cost of the pie shell and the pumpkin pie mix rising from a year ago. Two pie shells will cost about $2.34, up 8 cents from last year, while a 30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix will ring up at about $2.45, or 11 cents more than it cost a year ago.

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