Overview
- USDA-cited figures show wholesale frozen turkey prices up roughly 40% year over year, with supply strained by avian flu outbreaks, two U.S. plant closures, and higher feed costs highlighted by Purdue analysts.
- Wells Fargo estimates a traditional Thanksgiving menu can cost about 2% to 3% less than last year for shoppers who use store brands or curated bundles.
- Retail deals are widespread: Walmart’s basket for 10 people is just under $40 with Butterball turkey at $0.97 per pound; Kroger’s bundle runs about $4.75 per person; Aldi’s 21-item basket is around $40; Target offers a four-person meal under $20.
- Meijer is advertising store‑brand frozen turkeys at $0.49 per pound and broad staple discounts through Dec. 31, with select Meijer Market locations offering a free frozen turkey with a $75 purchase via mPerks.
- FactCheck.org says the president’s claim of a 25% drop in Thanksgiving prices is misleading because Walmart’s basket changed; broader BLS data show food‑at‑home prices up 2.7% from a year earlier.