By India McCarty
A Thanksgiving meal will cost less than it did last year, marking the third year in a row that prices have dropped for this holiday celebration.
“The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 40th annual Thanksgiving dinner survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of Thanksgiving staples that make up a classic holiday feast for 10, which is $55.18 or about $5.52 per person,” a report from the AFBF announced, adding that it’s a 5% decrease from 2024.
Breaking it down by dish, the average price for a 16-pound frozen turkey is $21.50, down over 16% from last year. A dozen frozen dinner rolls cost $3.56, a 14.6% discount, while 14-ounces of cubed stuffing mix is priced at $3.71, down 9%.
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“It’s encouraging to see some relief in the price of turkeys, as it is typically the most expensive part of the meal,” AFBF Economist Faith Parum, Ph.D, said in a statement. “Farmers are still working to rebuild turkey flocks that were devastated by avian influenza, but overall demand has also fallen. The combination will help ensure turkey will remain an affordable option for families celebrating Thanksgiving.”
AFBF President Zippy Duvall added, “We are blessed to live in a country that is capable of producing such an abundant food supply, and for that we should be thankful.”
“Despite modest declines in the cost of a Thanksgiving meal, I know food prices are a real concern for many families, including in rural America,” Duvall continued. “We lost 15,000 farms last year because of factors including historically low crop prices, high supply costs and trade uncertainty, which continue to squeeze farmers and ranchers. Every farm lost is another step toward consolidation and reliance on other countries for our food.”
He concluded, “We urge Congress to address the challenging economic conditions facing farmers to ensure farm families can continue growing the food we all rely on, not just on Thanksgiving, but every day of the year.”
In a statement given to the Daily Caller News Foundation, White House spokesman Kush Desai said, “The prices of turkeys, butter, cranberries, and other household essentials going down is another example why Americans are thankful,” adding, “The Administration will continue to implement a robust economic agenda to deliver economic relief for the American people.”
While most Thanksgiving dishes have a lower price, some have noticed that the price for sweet potatoes is up — according to AFBF’s report, three pounds of sweet potatoes costs $4.00, up 37%. However, there’s an easy explanation behind the vegetable’s higher price.
“60% of U.S. sweet potatoes are grown in Eastern North Carolina, but farmers there have seen yields decimated now by two hurricanes,” a report from The Packer explained, referring to Hurricane Helene’s devastating effects, as well as Hurricane Debby.
It might take a while for North Carolina’s sweet potato crop to recover, but for now, Americans can take comfort in the fact that the rest of their Thanksgiving meal items won’t break the bank!
Read Next: What’s the Most Popular Thanksgiving Dish in Your State?
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