Competition for the consumer dollar has most local grocers keeping Thanksgiving turkey prices significantly below their wholesale costs.
The retail prices of whole frozen birds are comparable to their 2009 price despite a 20 percent year-to-year increase in wholesale cost.
"Turkey production is down 2 percent from last year," said Purdue University Agricultural Economist Corrine Alexander. "Any time you see production down, you see prices go up."
Currently, the wholesale price per pound of eastern market whole turkeys is from $1 to $1.04 a pound compared with 84 cents a pound last year, she said.
Yet, local grocers are selling the 12- to 18-pound frozen birds for about 50 cents per pound for the holiday, with most stores adding a minimum purchase requirement. Premium turkeys are selling for about double that price per pound.
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