The cost of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner has decreased for the second year in a row, according to a survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), a non-profit organization representing farmers. However, the price varies between regions.
This year, the average price of a Thanksgiving meal for 10 people is estimated at $58.08, or $5.81 per person, down 5% from last year, according to the annual survey, reported by AFBF market intel. However, this is still 19% higher than five years ago.
The drop is largely due to turkeys, the centerpiece of most Thanksgiving tables, seeing the most significant price drop. A 16-pound bird now costs approximately $25.67, a decline of nearly 6% from last year.
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However, the survey described this as an anomaly, saying: "The USDA's Turkeys Raised report indicates that farmers raised 205 million turkeys in 2024, marking a 6% decline from the previous year and the lowest number since 1985."
Newsweek contacted the USDA via email on Monday outside of normal working hours for comment.
The AFBF states that 11 items, including several side dishes, make up the classic Thanksgiving dinner. According to its report: "Seven items dropped in price this year, including turkey, sweet potatoes, frozen peas, a vegetable tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie mix, pie crusts, and whole milk. However, dinner rolls, fresh cranberries, whipping cream, and cubed stuffing – rose in price."
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There is a marked difference between different regions of the U.S. in terms of the cost of Thanksgiving dinner. A map shows regions that are the most and least expensive.
Those in the West can expect to pay at least 14% more for Thanksgiving groceries than the rest of the country at $67.05 for a party of 10, stated the report. Other regions of the U.S. are lower by at least $8. Southern dinners are the lowest cost at $56.81, followed by the Northeast at $57.36 and $58.90 in the Midwest.
When looking at additional side dishes, with the South, Northeast and Midwest adding ham, russet potatoes and green beans, this would mean a basket total of $81.07, $81.37, and $83.04, respectively. The expanded Thanksgiving basket in the West would cost $93.33, over a dollar more per person.
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Sweet potatoes and whole milk had the biggest annual price drops, falling by 26 percent and 14 percent, respectively.
According to the report, favorable weather conditions for dairy cows and feedstuffs led to a 14% decrease in the price of a gallon of whole milk. Milk prices also varied significantly between regions across the country.
The largest increases in Thanksgiving dinner items this year come from processed products. "Dinner rolls and cubed stuffing both increased over 8% from 2023. Nonfood inflation and labor shortages have driven up costs for partners across the food supply chain," said the report.
Fresh cranberries had the next-largest price increase at 12%. When adjusted for inflation, this is the lowest price for cranberries since 1987, stated the report.
According to the survey: "When adjusted for inflation – or if your dollar had the same overall purchasing power as a consumer in 1984, right before the beginning of this survey – this would be the least expensive Thanksgiving meal in the 39-year history of the AFBF Thanksgiving survey, other than the outlier of 2020."
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