Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Holiday Food Prices Send Mixed Signals as Retailer Deals Clash With Rising Staples

Fresh reports highlight a gap between retailer promotions touted by the White House versus broader measures showing many groceries still cost more.

Overview

  • A Bankrate analysis of 50 holiday staples tied to CPI data found 78% are pricier than last year.
  • The American Farm Bureau Federation reports a 5% drop to $55.18 for a 10-person Thanksgiving meal, driven largely by discounted frozen turkey.
  • Walmart’s widely cited Thanksgiving package is about 25% cheaper than in 2024 but reflects a smaller, bargain-focused bundle with brand substitutions.
  • Snopes, citing Urban Institute figures, says the monthly cost to feed a family of four reached a record $1,030 this year.
  • A report from Groundwork Collaborative, The Century Foundation, and AFT finds many staples up about 10% with sharp spikes in items such as onions, linking increases to tariffs and supply strains.