Thanksgiving dinner for ten is projected to cost approximately 5% less this year compared to last year, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual survey. This marks a continued decline in the cost of the typical holiday meal, which reached a record high of $64.05 in 2022. Since then, prices have been steadily decreasing.
The Federation has used the same shopping list to assess the average cost of Thanksgiving dinner since 1986, involving volunteer shoppers from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. This list includes essential items such as turkey, cubed stuffing, sweet potatoes, dinner rolls, frozen peas, fresh cranberries, celery, carrots, pumpkin pie mix and crusts, whipping cream, and whole milk.
This year, the prices for four key items saw a notable drop: the turkey, cubed stuffing, fresh cranberries, and dinner rolls. The price of a 16-pound turkey decreased significantly from $25.67 in 2024 to $21.50 this year, marking the lowest price portion of Thanksgiving dinner since 2000.
While pumpkin pie mix and frozen pie crust prices largely remained stable over the past year, some side items did see price increases. Sweet potatoes, frozen green peas, carrots, celery, whole milk, and whipping cream have all become slightly more expensive, with fresh vegetables experiencing the sharpest rise in cost. These increases are attributed to the challenges faced by farmers, including rising expenses for fertilizer, fuel, machinery, labor, and land.
Adding to these challenges, Hurricane Helene significantly impacted North Carolina’s sweet potato production last fall, a state that accounts for about half of the nation’s sweet potatoes. Despite these setbacks, the overall decrease in costs for Thanksgiving essentials brings a glimmer of hope for families looking to enjoy the holiday meal together.