TUCSON (KGUN9-TV) -- What's the price of giving thanks? This thanksgiving will be the most expensive ever.
Turkey and egg prices have surged after the nation's worst-ever outbreak of bird flu.
The cost of turkeys at supermarkets jumped 15 to 20 percent higher than last year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Shopping for the classic Thanksgiving spread, starting with frozen turkey -- vegetables -- "We have to have that cranberry sauce that everyone makes fun of, but if I don't have it, they say 'Where's that cranberry sauce with lines on it?'"
Of course, price depends on your tastes and traditions. Surveys are generally based on a meal that feeds 10 people and the menu includes turkey and the trimmings, stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, rolls, cranberries and pumpkin pie.
This year at the supermarket register the average family will spend $50.11 for their Thanksgiving spread -- now jumping over inflation.
That's more than twice families spent in 1987. Back then turkey dinner cost just $24.51 -- that price tag sitting way under inflation.
Shopper Gloria Olvera reacted, "Whoa. Seriously?"
Frozen turkeys jumped from $.91 a pound in 1990 to $1.56 today.
"I've certainly seen that. Potatoes. Potatoes are more expensive," said Lucette Barber.
In 1990, the average price of a potato was 32 cents a pound. Now it's 66 cents a pound. In some Tucson supermarkets, it reaches 99 cents a pound.
But the substantial uptick in cost didn't seem to dissuade some shoppers from breaking long held family traditions.
Gloria Olvera:We don't get together enough anymore so that's the few times a year we do. So it is what it is.
Cavazos: You don't scale back because of the cost?
Olvera: No.
Cavazos: Do you find you might invite less people because of the cost? Lucette Barber: No, gotta have the same.
Cavazos: Tradition is important.
Barber: Tradition is important.
We'll give 11 year old Aiden Compton the last word on the higher price of giving thanks.
Cavazos: What do you like most about Thanksgiving?
Aiden Compton: That my family is here with me.
Yeah -- well worth the cost.
