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Bird flu means your Thanksgiving turkey will cost more this year

Nathan Bomey
USA TODAY
Classic roasted turkey with a cherry glaze.

It’s been a foul year for fowl.

The average price of Thanksgiving turkey has jumped as much as 20% this year, thanks — or no thanks — to the bird flu outbreak that killed some 8 million turkeys, according to the National Turkey Federation.

But you won't have to reach deep into your pocket to foot the stuffing bill.

Purdue University agricultural economist Corinne Alexander said in a report that grocery prices increased by only 0.8 percent from September 2014 to September 2015 — a lower than normal uptick.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture projected average wholesale price for the Eastern market whole turkey of $1.31 and $1.37 per pound for the final quarter, up from $1.14 in the same period a year ago, according to Purdue.

"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.

Still, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’ll hit your pocketbook.

Grocery stores often discount the price of turkeys, viewing them as loss leaders to lure customers into purchasing more profitable items.

For example, Walmart’s turkey prices will be lower than last year, with a 16-pound premium frozen Butterball selling for 64 cents less than last year, the Associated Press reported.

The AP also reported that pumpkin supplies are expected to last through Thanksgiving despite a 50% drop in yields in Illinois attributed to record rains.

There’s good news for Thanksgiving travelers, too. Gasoline prices have fallen by nearly 30% since last year, according to Purdue.

Follow USA TODAY reporter Nathan Bomey on Twitter @NathanBomey.

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