Hosting a Thanksgiving celebration in the United States will be noticeably cheaper this year, as the cost of a classic dinner for ten has fallen for the third year running.
Third Consecutive Price Drop
The estimated cost for a Thanksgiving meal serving ten people is $55.18 in 2025, according to the annual survey from the American Farm Bureau Federation. This represents a significant 5% decrease from the previous year, continuing a trend of declining costs.
Despite this recent relief, the broader picture reveals that food inflation has had a lasting impact. The overall price for the holiday feast remains 13 per cent higher than it was in 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent surge in inflation.
The Turkey Effect and Rising Costs Elsewhere
The primary driver behind this year's savings is a dramatic reduction in the price of the centrepiece. The cost of turkey has plummeted by 16.3 per cent, offering substantial relief to hosts.
However, the news is not uniformly positive. The survey found that approximately half of the typical holiday meal items have actually become more expensive. Notable increases include frozen peas, which are up 17.2 per cent, and sweet potatoes, which have surged by 37 per cent compared to last year.
Food Costs as a Political Issue
The cost of the weekly shop and special occasions like Thanksgiving is a major political issue in the US. In a recent move, former President Donald Trump reversed tariffs on hundreds of imported food items. This decision came after his party suffered losses in recent elections, highlighting the sensitivity of grocery bills for American voters.
While the falling price of turkey brings welcome news for Thanksgiving hosts, the mixed bag of price changes for other staples shows that the effects of inflation continue to ripple through the economy.
