Wisconsin below average for Thanksgiving costs

According to a Marketbasket survey from the Wisconsin Farm Bureau, a Thanksgiving meal in Wisconsin will cost an average of $74.54, which is a 4.3% increase from last year.

While turkey and all the trimmings will cost more this year than in 2021, Wisconsin families still pay about $6 less for the meal than the national average, which sits at $81.30. Bryce Iverson, owner of Iverson’s Piggly Wiggly in Oconto Falls, said competition among grocery stores is what helps keep those prices down for Wisconsin shoppers.

“There is a lot of different grocers that are located here in Wisconsin,” said Iverson. “That market share is spread out.”

Kelly Sufka, director of Charlie’s County Market in Shawano, attributed part of the difference to Wisconsin’s cost of living.

“I think it is the cost of things in general. We just have so much rural area compared to some of these other states,” said Sufka. “I think it really comes down to what it always comes down to — the cost of living, the wages people get paid in Wisconsin and that in general. Gas is cheaper here than it is in Chicago. A case of beer is cheaper here than it is in Milwaukee. It is just cheaper here in general.”

While average turkey and ham prices have decreased in Wisconsin, the cost of many side dishes has increased. Pie shells, for instance, jumped up 70 cents from $2.58 to $3.28, and milk increased 80 cents from $3.05 to $3.85. Iverson noted that prices are higher than last year at Iverson’s Piggly Wiggly. On average, he said, store prices rose around 20%.

“Our turkey prices this year are, as far as I can tell, the cheapest in the area at 47 cents a pound with a $25 purchase,” said Iverson. “Last year, they were 39 cents a pound with a $25 purchase. That is about a 17% increase just on the turkeys.”

Traditional sides have also increased at Charlie’s County Market. Sufka noted that a bag of potatoes, which cost $1.89 last year, rose 10 cents to $1.99 this Thanksgiving. Additionally, stuffing was a deal at two for $5 last year; this year, the price is two for $6.

“Prices have been going up since earlier in the year,” said Sufka. “Everybody is kind of accustomed to (increasing prices).”

Iverson said that reason for the increase in costs across the board is due in large part to the increased costs for transportation and packaging materials.

“Everything has gone up — fuel prices, transportation prices. That is the main reason for these price increases in not just groceries, but everything,” said Iverson. “For the average person, you are going to notice more when you are buying groceries and gas; it is something that people deal with on a daily business.”

While prices have increased, Iverson said that business has not been too affected. Iverson said that can once again be attributed to staying competitive with prices.

“Piggly Wiggly Midwest, our home base, helps us by doing price checks with our competitors to make sure that in every category, we are matching or beating them on prices,” said Iverson.

Iverson added that even though he thought there could be shortages on turkeys, that has not fully been the case and the store has been able to supply almost everyone coming in with the main Thanksgiving dish.

“It has been quite busy,” said Iverson. “For the most part, we have gotten all of the turkeys that we have pre-ordered. There has been some shortages, but I thought that it would be worse.”

In terms of shortages on food, Sufka said that Charlie’s County Market has been lucky in keeping all of the shelves stocked in the store.

“Just prior to COVID-19, we brought in a secondary warehouse, so we are able to go out on the store and have two order guns,” said Sufka. “You can really see when there is a shortage in both places.”

Sufka added that she has noticed many of the big turkeys in the store being sold first, something that she attributed to people seeking a return to normalcy following the pandemic.

“I feel like the Thanksgiving gatherings might be going back to the bigger gatherings instead of everyone just having small gatherings with only part of their families,” said Sufka. “It is just as busy here as last year, maybe even a little more busy. We have a lot of people looking for big birds this year.”

lreimer@newmedia-wi.com