Thanksgiving Dinner Costs Fall – Remain Higher Than Pre-Pandemic | Press release

Cooking a Thanksgiving feast for your friends and family will cost less than last year, but still more expensive than before the pandemic. 39th of the American Farm Bureau Federation^Th The annual Thanksgiving Dinner Survey provides an overview of the average cost of this year’s classic holiday feast for 10 people, $58.08, or about $5.80 per person.

This is a 5% decrease from 2023, which was 4.5% less than 2022. Two years of declines do not negate the dramatic increases that led to a record price of $64.06 in 2022. Despite the encouraging momentum, a Thanksgiving meal still costs 19% more than it did in 2019, highlighting the impact of inflation on food prices — and farmers’ costs — since the pandemic.

The centerpiece on most Thanksgiving tables — the turkey — helped lower the overall cost of the dinner. The average price for a 16 pound turkey is $25.67. That’s $1.60 per pound, down 6% from last year.

Farm Bureau volunteer shoppers checked prices Nov. 1-7, before most grocery chains began offering whole frozen turkeys at significantly lower prices. According to the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, the average price per pound for whole frozen turkeys continued to decline during the second week of November. Consumers who have not yet purchased a turkey can score additional savings in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

“The turkey is traditionally the main attraction on the Thanksgiving table and is typically the most expensive part of the meal,” said AFBF economist Bernt Nelson. “Due to bird flu, the American turkey flock is at its smallest size since 1985, but overall demand has also fallen, resulting in lower prices at the grocery store for families planning a holiday meal.”

The shopping list for the Farm Bureau’s informal survey includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls, peas, cranberries, a vegetable tray and pumpkin pie with whipped cream, all in enough quantities for a group of 10 people.

Most ingredients in the survey experienced price drops, including fresh vegetables. The drop in prices reflects crop price volatility this year. The cost of whole milk fell by more than 14%. The favorable weather contributed to the fall in milk prices. However, it is important to note that milk prices vary significantly between regions in the United States

Items like rolls and diced fillings each saw an 8% increase as higher labor costs, among other things, drive up the cost of processed foods. Cranberry prices rose nearly 12% year-over-year. In 2023, cranberries experienced the second largest price decline of all products in our basket at 18%. This year’s increase brings cranberry prices closer to historical norms and, other than last year, is the cheapest year since 2015.

“We should all be grateful that we live in a country with such an abundant food supply,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “We see slight improvements in the cost of Thanksgiving dinner in the second year, but America’s families, including farm families, are still suffering from high inflation.”

“America has one of the most affordable food supplies in the world. To sustain this, we need a strong farm bill that allows Americans to pursue their dreams without worrying about feeding their families,” Duvall said. “A new farm bill with a modernized safety net to support those who grow crops and livestock ensures farmers can weather tough economic times and continue to provide food for America’s families, not just at the holidays, but all year long.”

Recognizing changes in Thanksgiving dinner traditions, Farm Bureau’s price survey also includes boneless ham, russet potatoes and frozen green beans in an expanded menu. Adding these foods to the classic Thanksgiving menu increased the total cost by $19.26 to $77.34.

This year’s national average costs were calculated using surveys conducted using price data from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Farm Bureau volunteer shoppers checked prices in person and online through grocery store apps and websites. They were looking for the best possible prices without taking advantage of special promotional vouchers or combined purchase offers.

The AFBF Thanksgiving Dinner Survey was first conducted in 1986. The informal survey provides a record of the comparative costs of holiday meals over the years. Farm Bureau’s classic survey menu has remained unchanged since 1986 to provide consistent price comparisons.

Individual prices

• 16-pound turkey: $25.67 or $1.60 per pound (down 6.1%)
• 14 ounces cubed stuffing mix: $4.08 (up 8.2%)
• 2 frozen pie crusts: $3.40 (down 2.9%)
• Half pint of whipped cream: $1.81 (up 4.7%)
• 1 pound frozen peas: $1.73 (down 8.1%)
• 1 dozen rolls: $4.16 (up 8.4%)
• Other Meal Preparation Ingredients: $3.75 (minus 5.1%)
• 30-ounce can of pumpkin pie mix: $4.15 (down 6.5%)
• 1 gallon of whole milk: $3.21 (down 14.3%)
• 3 pounds sweet potatoes: $2.93 (down 26.2%)
• 1-pound vegetable tray (carrots and celery): $0.84 (down 6.4%)
• 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries: $2.35 (up 11.8%)

Regional averages

The AFBF analysis revealed regional differences in meal costs. The cost of the classic meal was cheapest in the South at $56.81, followed by the Northeast at $57.36, the Midwest at $58.90 and a significant increase in the West at 67.05 US dollars. The expanded meal (classic meal plus boneless ham, russet potatoes, and green beans) was cheapest in the South at $81.07, in the Northeast at $81.37, in the Midwest at $83.04, and in the West at $93, $33 cheapest.

Read a complete analysis of the 2024 Thanksgiving dinner cost survey in a Market Intel report here.

To download selected survey soundbites, click here.

To learn more about the farm bill, click here.

AFBF also conducts an annual summer cookout survey prior to the Fourth of July holiday. Look for this to happen at the end of June 2025.

*This press release has been revised to reflect a revised price per pound for the Türkiye and Western Region average.