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Thanksgiving 2025: Classic Dinner Cost Falls to $55.18, Lowest Since 2021

Retail loss-leader turkey pricing is driving the drop in the long-running Farm Bureau basket.

Overview

  • The American Farm Bureau Federation pegs a traditional 10-person meal at $55.18, down 5% from 2024 and the third straight annual decline.
  • A 16-pound frozen turkey averages $21.50, more than 16% lower year over year, as Walmart, Aldi, Target and others push deep turkey and bundle deals.
  • Not all items are cheaper: AFBF reports a veggie tray up about 61% and sweet potatoes up roughly 37%, and tariffs have lifted costs for some canned goods.
  • Different methods show higher totals, with Wells Fargo estimating $80 using store brands and $95 for name brands, and Datasembly’s basket at $58.81, up 4.1% from last year.
  • Broader inflation remains elevated with grocery prices up about 2.7% year over year, wholesale turkey measures have risen with avian flu pressures, and costs vary by region from about $50 in the South to nearly $62 in the West.