Republican House majority; Thanksgiving prices; Starbucks strike

Republicans secured a majority in the House of Representatives; Thanksgiving dinner prices up 20% compared to last year; and Starbucks workers were set to go on strike. These stories highlight the Daily Rundown for Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022.

Republicans secure House majority – More than a week after the midterm elections, Republicans reached the 218-seat threshold needed to flip the House from Democratic control Wednesday. The race that decided the House turned out to be in California, where incumbent Rep. Mike Garcia, R, defeated Democratic challenger Christy Smith.

Republicans now hold a 218-211 majority in the House and could pick up a few more seats before all the results are official. The result is a split government, after Democrats retained control of the Senate over the weekend.

Thanksgiving dinner price hike – According to a survey published Wednesday by the American Farm Bureau Federation, Thanksgiving dinner this year is expected to be 20% more expensive than last year. The expected price hike is the largest since the Farm Bureau’s first Thanksgiving dinner cost survey in 1986.

“General inflation slashing the purchasing power of consumers is a significant factor contributing to the increase in average cost of this year’s Thanksgiving dinner,” AFBF Chief Economist Roger Cryan said in a statement. “Other contributing factors to the increased cost for the meal include supply chain disruptions and the war in Ukraine.”

As for the cost of the Thanksgiving turkey specifically, the bureau cited “a slightly smaller flock this year, increased feed costs and lighter processing weights” as reasons behind a 21% price hike from last year.

Starbuck workers to go on strike – Starbucks workers at more than 100 U.S. stores said they’re going on strike Thursday. It would be the largest labor action since a campaign to unionize the company’s stores began late last year.

Workers are seeking better pay, more consistent schedules and higher staffing levels in busy stores. Starbucks opposes the unionization effort, saying the company functions best when it works directly with employees.

The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.