That Thanksgiving spread for ten people now costs $55.18, or about $5.52 per person. After three years of steady declines from 2022’s painful $64.05 peak, American families finally catch a break on holiday tradition costs—though the story behind your grocery bill tells a more complicated tale.
Turkey Recovery Drives the Savings Train
Recovering flocks and aggressive promotions slash centerpiece costs by 16%.
Turkey prices cratered this year, with a 16-pound frozen bird averaging $21.50—down more than 16% from last year’s already-reduced rates. That’s $1.34 per pound for the holiday centerpiece that typically devours 43% of your total dinner budget.
The American Farm Bureau Federation credits recovering turkey flocks after devastating avian flu outbreaks, combined with weakened demand and grocery stores aggressively promoting deals to move inventory.
Other staples joined the downward march:
- Dinner rolls dropped 14.6%
- Stuffing fell 9%
- Various prep ingredients declined nearly 5%
Low wheat prices and stable crop yields kept these traditional sides affordable, offering genuine relief for families still smarting from inflation’s recent bite.
Supply Chain Chaos Creates Winners and Losers
Weather disasters send some ingredients soaring despite overall cost decline.
Don’t celebrate too early—Mother Nature had other plans for several Thanksgiving essentials. Sweet potatoes spiked 37% after hurricanes pummeled North Carolina, the nation’s leading producer.
- Veggie trays jumped a staggering 61.3%
- Milk climbed 16.3%
- Frozen peas rose 17.2%
Regional disparities reveal America’s complex food geography. Southern families pay the least at $50.01 for the classic meal, while Western households shell out $61.75—a $11.74 gap that reflects transportation costs, local agriculture, and market competition.
The Farm Bureau’s methodology, tracking prices across all 50 states plus Puerto Rico without counting promotional deals, provides the most apples-to-apples comparison possible.
These mixed signals reflect supply chain realities: recovering livestock populations, extreme weather events, and the intricate dance between commodity markets and your dinner table. For most families, though, turkey’s dramatic price drop outweighs the vegetable volatility.
The bottom line? Planning Thanksgiving dinner won’t break the bank this year, but smart shoppers will hunt for deals on those hurricane-affected sides.
