Thanksgiving Dinner Costs Drop for Third Straight Year

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Cooking a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people will cost an average of $55.18 this year, marking a 5% decrease from 2024, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) 40th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey.

This decline represents the third consecutive year that prices have fallen after reaching a record high of $64.05 in 2022. The AFBF attributes this year’s decrease primarily to lower turkey prices, which have dropped more than 16% compared to the previous year. The average price for a 16-pound frozen turkey is now $21.50.

“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 average shopping list includes classic items such as turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie, all in quantities sufficient for 10 servings. Half of the items surveyed experienced price drops, including dinner rolls and stuffing, while certain fresh produce items, like sweet potatoes, experienced significant increases of up to 37% due to natural disasters and ongoing labor shortages.

The survey revealed regional price variations, with the classic meal being the most affordable in the South at $50.01. The Northeast showed a higher average cost at $60.82, while the West had the highest at $61.75.

Volunteer shoppers checked prices both online and in-store, aiming to find the best deals without using promotional coupons. This year’s survey included shopping data from all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

The AFBF first conducted the Thanksgiving dinner survey in 1986, and it has since provided a reference for comparing holiday meal costs across the years. Each year, the organization notes how prices vary and the factors influencing those changes.

“Despite modest declines in the cost of a Thanksgiving meal, I know food prices are a real concern for many families,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall, emphasizing the ongoing economic challenges facing farmers.