By Alice GibbsShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThanksgiving dinner just got cheaper, that is according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) annual holiday survey.
The organization reports the average price of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people will cost $55.18, 5 percent less than in 2024 and the lowest average amount since 2021.
The decline comes as grocery inflation shows signs of easing, particularly on several staple items.
Despite a tighter national supply and higher wholesale costs, the price of turkey saw one of the largest drops this year.
A 16-pound frozen bird will cost shoppers $21.50, down more than 16 percent from 2024. Other Thanksgiving essentials such as dinner rolls and stuffing mix also fell in price this year.
...“It’s encouraging to see some relief in the price of turkeys, as it is typically the most expensive part of the meal,” said AFBF Economist Faith Parum, Ph.D. “Farmers are still working to rebuild turkey flocks that were devastated by avian influenza, but overall demand has also fallen. The combination will help ensure turkey will remain an affordable option for families celebrating Thanksgiving.”
Still, not every item on the table is cheaper. Fresh vegetables and sweet potatoes increased, with a typical veggie tray costing 61 percent more than last year, and sweet potatoes are up 37 percent.
These price spikes have been driven partly by ongoing challenges in the agricultural sector. These include hurricane damage in North Carolina—the largest grower of the nation’s sweet potatoes—as well as the volatility of fresh produce markets. Weather disruptions, labor shortages and transportation delays all contributed to the jump, with even small price increases translating to steep percentage changes for traditionally low-cost items.
Costs Across the U.S.
AFBF’s survey, which has been conducted since 1986, tracks the price of 12 standard holiday foods across all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
Volunteers check prices both online and in stores and search for the best deals available without using coupons or loyalty discounts. Farm Bureau’s classic survey menu has remained unchanged since 1986 to allow for consistent price comparisons.
Across the country, regional prices varied widely. The South reported the most affordable average cost at $50.01, followed by the Midwest at $54.38. In the Northeast, the average cost was $60.82, while Western states remained the most expensive at $61.75.
If you are keen to keep costs down this Thanksgiving, another analysis has revealed the cheapest grocery stores to stock up on holiday essentials here, with some stores being dramatically cheaper than others for holiday food essentials.
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