A traditional Thanksgiving dinner may be more expensive this year than last across the Midwest, though experts say a variety of factors leave prices variable and uncertain.

“It’s more uncertain this year somewhat because of the government shutdown but also because of some other factors moving around in some of these markets,” said Jeff Hadachek , assistant professor of agriculture and applied economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Generally, I anticipate prices will be higher, but the question is: ‘How much higher?’”

Hadachek said he expects to see the prices of most Thanksgiving favorites − think cranberries, sweet potatoes, stuffing, pie and rolls − to only climb about 2-3% from last year, following the typical pace of food-price inflation .

However, the quintessenti

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