The price of turkey and stuffing has gone down this Thanksgiving from last year, according to NPR. A survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation found the average price of food for a Thanksgiving feast is about 5% lower this year than last, largely thanks to a steep drop in the price of turkey.
Grocery prices have soared during the pandemic and the years that followed. They continue to go up — having gone up by 2.7% in the twelve months till September.
Turkey prices in particular, had gone up due to an outbreak of bird flu. There has also been an outbreak of another disease, avian metapneumovirus, which causes turkeys to lay fewer eggs. These diseases have caused a significant impact on turkey prices.
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According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the shrinking population is expected to cost wholesale turkey prices to rise 44% this year. Despite the increase, many stores are offering discounted or even free turkeys to soften the potential blow to Thanksgiving meal budgets. But even if the bird is cheaper than last year, the ingredients to prepare the rest of the holiday feast may not be. Tariffs for imported steel, for instance, have caused a rise in prices for canned goods.
As of Nov. 17, a basket of 11 Thanksgiving staples — including a 10-pound frozen turkey, 10 Russet potatoes, a box of stuffing and cans of corn, green beans and cranberry sauce — cost $58.81, or 4.1% more than last year, according to Datasembly, a market research company that surveys weekly prices at 150,000 U.S. stores. That’s higher than the average price increase for food eaten at home, which rose 2.7% in September, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Datasembly also showed a 2% decline in the retail price of a 10-pound turkey as of Nov. 17. However, the firm’s estimate differed from other estimates.
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The American Farm Bureau Federation, which uses volunteer shoppers in all 50 states to survey prices, reported that Thanksgiving dinner for 10 would cost $55.16 this year, or 5% less than last year. The Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute, using NielsenIQ data from September, estimated that feeding 10 people on Thursday using store-brand products would cost $80 this year, which is 2% to 3% lower than last year’s estimate.
Grocery chains are also offering deals to attract shoppers. Discount grocer Aldi is advertising a $40 meal for 10 with 21 items. Kroger said shoppers could feed 10 people for under $50 with its menu of store-brand products.
President Donald Trump had touted Walmart’s Thanksgiving meal basket, which he said was 25% cheaper than last year. But that was because Walmart included a different assortment and fewer products overall this year.
“We’re seeing some promotions being implemented in an effort to draw customers into the store,” David Ortega, a professor of food economics and policy at Michigan State University, said.