Quote from Tsing Tao:
At least it's a scientific study!
Wonder if they have census employees from the BLS working there.
Interesting data table at the right of the article showing the average costs over the years. 35% inflation in the last 10 years according to that data. 10% in the last 5 years.
70% since the survey began in the 80s.
It's NOT a scientific study, but that's what it says on the tin, innit? 'Cause the survey is "informal", like the article sez. BLS methods, on the other hand, ARE scientific, academic, you name it, but, as I understand it, they ain't good enuff for ya. So there's just no pleasing ya, innit, bruv?
As to the cumulative rises, that is, what, roughly 3% annual Thanksgiving dinner inflation rate over the last 10 years, 1.92% over the last 5 years and almost precisely 2% over the whole 27 year period since the survey started. Doesn't sound particularly monumental to me.
Finally, as a brief aside, I should mention that the BLS doesn't apply hedonic adjustments to the food category in CPI. Also, the cases of labor data manipulation that you're referring to are within the Census Bureau's mandate, rather than the BLS.