Nov. 21. By TL Bernthal. Many of us are frustrated by how much it costs to put food on the table, especially with Thanksgiving just one week away.

That said, the average price nationwide for a 16-pound turkey is $25.67, down 6 percent from last year. The average cost of this year’s dinner for 10 people is $58.08, or about $5.80 per person, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. That’s a 5 percent drop from 2023, but still 10 percent ahead of pre-COVID prices.

Indeed, grocery prices nationwide have leveled off, according to experts.

In Cornelius

Our Cornelius grocery food survey, taken in mid-October, is on-trend. For the most part.

Prices for the same 14 items at Aldi, Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Publix and The Fresh Market did go up at each store, but only by 30 cents at Harris Teeter, 50 cents at Food Lion, $3.32 at Aldi.

Prices went down $1.43 at The Fresh Market, and $6.49 at Publix.

The cheapest total for the select items was at Aldi ($37), followed by Publix ($54.31), Food Lion ($55.85), Harris Teeter ($60.46), and The Fresh Market ($69.83).

Grocery food prices across the country are expected to continue to fall through next year, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Details

So why doesn’t it feel like prices are staying steady or decreasing?

A consumer inflation report that came out this summer showed grocery prices rose just a little over 1 percent in the last 12 months. The previous year, prices jumped nearly 5 percent, and the year before that, prices skyrocketed by double digits.

So even though prices might be stabilizing, we’re still feeling the cumulative effect of those earlier increases.

Some shoppers have reacted by turning to store brand products that are cheaper or cutting out snacks.

And there’s still uncertainty about what will happen with prices of two basics: eggs and bread.

Egg prices are a big question mark, depending on bird flu. Birds are getting sick, and that means fewer eggs and higher prices at the grocery store. Egg prices in the U.S. this year were highest, on average, in Hawaii at $9.73 a dozen, followed by Florida at $6.36 and Alabama at $6.12.

Egg prices in Cornelius ranged from $2.16 at Aldi to $3.79 at Harris Teeter.

Somewhat reminiscent of COVID times, store shelves sometimes are sparsely filled or even empty, particularly in the bread aisle.

Nationwide, bread is more scarce in the United States for a couple of reason that probably aren’t going away anytime soon:

•  The Russian invasion of Ukraine impacted grain exports, including wheat that is used to make flour and bread.

• Drought in the South and Central states has damaged wheat crops; 75 percent of the country’s wheat crops are currently grown in drought conditions.

Here are some other food trends this year

Sustainability: Shoppers are looking for eco-friendly options. Retailers are offering more organic, fair trade and plant-based products.

Prepared foods: Consumers are prioritizing convenience and quality, and prepared foods are filling that need. Retailers are responding with investments in kitchen equipment and menu development.

Buckwheat: This seed is becoming more popular, and is showing up in pancake mixes, cookies and crackers.

Seafood plants: Ocean-based superfood plants, like kelp, nori and algae, are growing in popularity.

Fruity flavors: Very popular in 2024.

Food for mental health: There’s a rising demand for foods that support emotional well-being.

We’ll check prices again next year, and hope for a good news trend.