American families are seeing welcome relief this Thanksgiving as the cost of a traditional holiday dinner drops to its lowest level since 2021. According to the American Farm Bureau’s 40th annual survey, a classic Thanksgiving meal for 10 will cost $55.18 this year—down five percent from 2024 and a clear reversal from the soaring prices under President Joe Biden.
This year’s drop in cost is led by a sharp 16 percent decline in turkey prices, with a 16-pound bird averaging $21.50. Additional savings come from lower prices on cubed stuffing, fresh cranberries, and dinner rolls. However, some items still rose, including sweet potatoes, frozen peas, carrots, celery, whole milk, and whipping cream. Pumpkin pie ingredients remained mostly unchanged.
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) organizes volunteers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico to collect data on local grocery prices each year. Since 1986, the survey has measured the total cost of a fixed menu, giving a snapshot of food inflation and affordability across the country.
The drop in meal costs comes after years of financial strain during Biden’s presidency. In 2021, his first year in office, the cost of Thanksgiving dinner jumped 14 percent, reaching $53.31. The following year, it surged another 20 percent to a record $64.05. By Biden’s final Thanksgiving, the cost had risen 24 percent higher than it was when he took office—a direct hit to working families across the nation.
While Biden officials blamed the increases on “transitory” inflation and global supply issues, this year’s decline directly undermines those claims. The numbers align with President Donald Trump’s recent statements that his policies—particularly on trade and immigration—would drive prices down, not up, despite dire predictions from left-wing economists.
Though prices remain elevated from pre-Biden levels, this year’s improvement offers a tangible example of how conservative economic leadership can ease the burden on American households.
