Thanksgiving Dinner Costs Fall Again, but Many Staples More Expensive

The cost of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people in the United States is set to decline for the third consecutive year, driven largely by sharp discounts on turkey prices, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual survey released Wednesday. The organization estimates this year’s meal will cost $55.18, down 5% from 2024 and the lowest since 2021. However, the figure remains 13% higher than 2019 levels, before pandemic-era disruptions and relief measures fueled a surge in inflation.

While the price of a 16-pound turkey — the meal’s centerpiece — fell by 16.3% due to aggressive retail promotions, about half the traditional Thanksgiving menu items saw price increases. Frozen peas were up by 17.2%, sweet potatoes jumped 37%, and a fresh vegetable tray rose by more than 61% compared with last year. The Farm Bureau’s findings, based on volunteer shoppers across the country, place the average cost per person at roughly $5.52.

Rising food costs have become a political flashpoint as the holiday approaches, especially amid a prolonged government shutdown that has disrupted air travel and delayed key economic data releases. Inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index stood at 3.0% in September, the highest since January. Responding to voter frustration, President Donald Trump recently rolled back tariffs on a wide range of imported food products, including beef, bananas, and coffee, following Republican Party losses in the first elections held since his return to the White House.

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