Thanksgiving Dinner Costs Drop for Second Year but Remain Above Pre-Pandemic Levels

The average Thanksgiving meal price for 10 is down 5% from last year but still 19% higher than in 2019, reflecting ongoing inflationary pressures.

The American Farm Bureau Federation reports the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 is $58.08 this year, a 5% decrease from 2023 but 19% higher than pre-pandemic prices in 2019.
Turkey prices have dropped by 6% from last year due to reduced demand, despite the smallest U.S. turkey flock since 1985 following avian influenza outbreaks.
Retailers like Walmart, Target, and Aldi are offering discounted meal bundles, with prices ranging from $20 for a four-person meal at Target to $47 for a 10-person meal at Aldi.
Regional price disparities persist, with Thanksgiving meals costing the most in the West ($67.05 on average) and the least in the South ($56.81 on average).
While some ingredient prices, including sweet potatoes and milk, have fallen, others like stuffing mix and cranberries have risen, reflecting mixed impacts of inflation on grocery costs.