Vital Statistics: Thanksgiving Edition

Thanksgiving travel costs increase

The cost of your travel plans for the Thanksgiving holiday will most likely be higher than last year. According to Orbitz Worldwide Inc, the average round trip airfare for Wednesday through Sunday to the 10 most popular destinations in the U.S. has jumped 11 percent (to $373) compared to the same period last year. Flights to New York will increase the most, rising 20 percent compared to 2010, with an average round trip price of $342.

Curious if you are heading to one of the busiest or least busy airports for the holiday? Orbitz also reviewed the top 50 airports in the U.S. based on flight bookings and found that Los Angeles International, Chicago O’Hare and Orlando International will be the three busiest airports in the country. Meanwhile, Mineta San Jose International claims the least busy title.

The price of Thanksgiving dinner is on the rise

According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the cost of a 10-person traditional Thanksgiving dinner has jumped by 13 percent since last year. That is equivalent to $5.70 for an average total of $49.20. This is the largest increase since the study began 26 years ago.

It now costs an average of $21.57 for a 16 pound turkey, $3.91 more than 2010, making it the biggest contributor to the price increase.  A gallon of whole milk was also among the biggest gainers, rising 42 cents from last year to $3.66. Thirty ounces of pumpkin pie mix also played a part, jumping 41 cents to $3.03.

The Thanksgiving news isn’t all negative! For some positivity, check out the Forbes piece Breast Cancer Fund’s Scary Thanksgiving Study Is A Turkey by STATS editor-at-large Trevor Butterworth. Harvard Medical School also discusses some of the benefits of giving thanks.

Gen X superior to baby boomers

New research from the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research finds that Generation X (born 1961-1981) is not “bowling alone”, but full of hardworking adults who lead “active, balanced, and happy lives”.

The results are based on the Longitudinal Study of American Youth, a survey of 4,000 Americans between the ages of 36 and 50.

Here are a few highlights courtesy of USA Today:

70%: Spend 40 or more hours a week working and commuting; 40% do that 50 hours or more

68%: Are currently married, and 71% have minor children at home

90%: Participated in at least one recreation or leisure activity a month; 40% engaged in two or more

33%: Are active members of a church or religious organization

7.5: Average level of happiness on a 10-point scale in which 10 is very happy.

The survey also reveals that 95 percent talk on the phone at least once a week to friends or family and 29 percent say they do so at least once a day. According to Jon Miller, director of the Longitudinal Study of American Youth, Gen X contacts friends and family more than their parents ever did.

This generation also likes to read with 72 percent reporting that they read a newspaper (print or online) at least once a week and 80 percent buying and reading a book at least once in the past year. Almost 50 percent said they read six or more books in the past year.

For more information on this survey, the full report can be viewed here.