The annual cost of a Thanksgiving feast is cheaper than last year but remains markedly above pre-pandemic levels, according to a survey released by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) on Nov. 20.
The AFBF’s 39th annual Thanksgiving dinner cost survey found that the price of a traditional holiday meal for 10 people has decreased by 5 percent compared to 2023.
According to the survey, the average cost now stands at $58.08, or about $5.80 per person.
Despite the lower overall price, the feast remains significantly higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic. The AFBF found that current prices are still 19 percent above 2019 levels, highlighting the impact inflation has had on food prices.
The main dish for most Thanksgiving dinners, the turkey, saw one of the largest price drops this year with a 16-pound turkey now costing an average of $25.67, or $1.60 per pound, representing a 6 percent decrease from the previous year.
AFBF economist Bernt Nelson said there were several reasons for this.
“The American turkey flock is the smallest it’s been since 1985 because of avian influenza, but overall demand has also fallen, resulting in lower prices at the grocery store for families planning a holiday meal,” he said.
The survey also focused on the cost of other Thanksgiving staples with a shopping list that includes cranberries, rolls, sweet potatoes, peas, stuffing, a vegetable tray, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream. Most of the ingredients have seen price decreases, showcasing the volatility in crops this year, according to the survey.
Another key finding revealed that milk prices have dropped by over 14 percent, while sweet potatoes saw the most dramatic decline at 26.2 percent.
Not all typical Thanksgiving dishes have, however, become cheaper, with dinner rolls and cubed stuffing increasing by 8 percent, which analysts say is due to rising labor costs and processing expenses.
Prices Regionally Vary
The cost of Thanksgiving dinner varies across different regions of the country. According to the survey, the South offers the most affordable feast at $56.81 compared to the West where it costs $67.05. Prices can fluctuate depending on what dishes are added, such as boneless ham, Russet potatoes, and frozen green beans, which can increase the total cost to $77.34, adding $19.26 to the classic menu.
AFBF President Zippy Duvall said the results were promising and expressed gratitude for the abundance of food available in the United States.
“We should all be thankful that we live in a country with such an abundant food supply. We are seeing modest improvements in the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner for a second year, but America’s families, including farm families, are still being hurt by high inflation,” he said.
Surveyors included volunteer shoppers from all 50 states and Puerto Rico who carefully checked prices between Nov. 1 and Nov. 7. According to the AFBF, the volunteers looked for the best possible prices without using special promotions or combined purchase deals to ensure an accurate reflection of prices.
Duvall also stressed the importance of supporting the agricultural sector to keep prices low.
“America has one of the most affordable food supplies in the world. In order to maintain that, we need a strong farm bill which enables Americans to pursue their dreams without worrying about feeding their families,” he said.
The bureau’s tradition of tracking holiday meal costs began in 1986 and has remained unchanged since, allowing for consistent price comparisons, according to the organization.