A report from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) found that the average Thanksgiving meal for 10 people costs 25% more compared to 2019.
According to the report, the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal per guest is $6.12, down 4.5% from last year.
This year’s average Thanksgiving dinner cost is $61.17, compared to last year’s high of $64.05.
In 2021, the closest year to the group’s 2019 comparison point, Thanksgiving dinner cost $53.31.
“As part of the survey tradition dating back to 1986, volunteers collect price data on turkey, cubed stuffing, sweet potatoes, dinner rolls, frozen peas, fresh cranberries, celery, carrots, pumpkin pie mix, pie shells, whipping cream and whole milk,” the report said. “To reflect an expanded Thanksgiving table, data on boneless ham, Russet potatoes and frozen green beans is also collected. When including the additional items, the cost of a Thanksgiving meal rose to $84.75 or $8.48 per person.”
Over the last twenty years, turkey has contributed to an average of 43% of Thanksgiving dinner costs.
“The centerpiece on most Thanksgiving tables – the turkey – helped bring down the overall cost of dinner,” the report explained. “The average price for a 16-pound turkey is $27.35. That is $1.71 per pound, down 5.6% from last year.”
AFBF Senior Economist Veronica Nigh, “Turkey prices have fallen thanks to a sharp reduction in cases of avian influenza, which have allowed production to increase in time for the holiday.”
Pumpkin pie mix and dinner rolls had the largest annual increase at 3.8% and 3.0%, respectively.
Whipping cream and cranberries had the greatest price decrease at 22.8% and 18.3%, respectively.
The report concluded that “2023 will have the second most expensive Thanksgiving meal in the survey’s 38-year history,” adding, “Although survey prices have begun to come down, food price inflation remains a real issue and serves as a constraint on the budget of all U.S. consumers.”
The White House recently tweeted that “costs are down for everything from airline tickets and car rentals to toys and TVs.”
Ahead of the holiday season, costs are down for everything from airline tickets and car rentals to toys and TVs.
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) November 21, 2023
The Biden-Harris Administration is working every day to create more breathing room for hardworking families. pic.twitter.com/GH3OSERTIu
The statement received widespread criticism, with one individual responding, “Still twice as high as they were under Trump.”
Still twice as high as they were under Trump
— The Dank Knight 🦇 (@capeandcowell) November 21, 2023
Another individual shared, “Literally every single one of these things are more expensive than when Biden took office so you might wanna sit this one out there Big Guy.”
Literally every single one of these things are more expensive than when Biden took office so you might wanna sit this one out there Big Guy
— Jake Schneider (@jacobkschneider) November 21, 2023
Americans for Prosperity shared a graphic of Thanksgiving items, writing, “Fixed this for you.”
Fixed this for you pic.twitter.com/n1AXBKMGIP
— Americans for Prosperity (@AFPhq) November 21, 2023
