Editorial: A cheaper Thanksgiving, but no one’s feeling rich
As Thanksgiving approaches, many families are finalizing their plans for the holiday, and this year, travel is expected to surge. According to AAA, a staggering 1.6 million more people are projected to travel at least 50 miles for Thanksgiving compared to last year, marking a record-setting travel period. For those hosting the feast, the logistics can be daunting, from thawing the turkey to budgeting for the meal. Surprisingly, recent reports suggest that the cost of Thanksgiving dinner is more affordable this year, with the American Farm Bureau estimating that a meal for ten will cost around $55.18, down from $58.08 in 2024 and $61.17 in 2023. This drop in cost can be attributed to lower prices for staple items, such as turkeys, which can be found at major retailers like Amazon for as low as $10 for a 20-pound Butterball turkey.
While the lower costs for Thanksgiving dinner might seem like a relief, many consumers are left puzzled by the disparity between the affordable holiday meal and the overall inflation they experience in their daily lives. Although the average price for a 16-pound turkey hovers around $21.50, with rolls and sweet potatoes costing under $4, the reality is that everyday grocery items have seen significant price increases. For instance, a bag of potato chips now costs nearly $7, compared to around $4.50 before the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, while Thanksgiving dinner may be cheaper this year, the overall perception of inflation is skewed by the rising costs of everyday essentials, snacks, and takeout meals.
Despite the ongoing challenges posed by inflation, the affordability of Thanksgiving dinner offers a glimmer of hope. It serves as a reminder that cooking at home remains a viable option for families looking to stretch their budgets. In a time when many aspects of life feel financially constraining, the ability to gather around a table and share a meal with loved ones is a cherished tradition that continues to be accessible. As families prepare for their Thanksgiving gatherings, there is much to be grateful for, including the opportunity to enjoy a festive meal together without breaking the bank.
What are your plans this Thanksgiving?
You’ve almost certainly got the answer to that question locked down this close to the big day, and if you’re hosting you’d better have your bird pretty well thawed.
Many of us are traveling to be with family —
AAA
projects 1.6 million more people will be traveling at least 50 miles this Thanksgiving compared with last year for a record-setting travel period.
But if you’re hosting, you’ve got a lot on your plate, literally and figuratively, and you’ve likely done a fair bit of budgeting as you figure out how to get enough food on the table. For our part, we were surprised to see headlines boasting that Thanksgiving dinner is relatively affordable this holiday season. The
American Farm Bureau
calculated the cost to feed a table of 10 is about $55.18 this year, down from $58.08 in 2024 and $61.17 in 2023.
That makes sense when you consider that Amazon is selling 20-pound Butterball turkeys for
$10
. Once you get the centerpiece dish, the rest of the fixings can be bought relatively cheap, and so we can see how that $55 tab isn’t so far-fetched after all if you’re buying on a budget. Of course, there are higher-end, more expensive birds, but we’re speaking in generalities, and Butterball is a popular name brand this holiday season, even if it’s not everyone’s first choice. The AFB calculated the average price for a 16-pound turkey is about $21.50, with rolls costing less than $4 and sweet potatoes just $4 for three pounds.
We’ll stop there with the price inventory — you get the idea. Yet even after acknowledging the affordability of these staple items, we’re left wondering how it’s possible that Thanksgiving is cheaper this year while so many Americans feel stretched thin.
In some ways, the headlines heralding how reasonable it is to purchase your Thanksgiving meal could be viewed as a rediscovery: Yes, it’s more affordable to cook your own food instead of eating or ordering out, and $55 goes a lot further at the grocery store than a restaurant. Cooking from scratch remains one of the few places where families can beat inflation, even while broader food prices remain uncomfortably high.
Food costs aren’t dropping out of the headlines any time soon, and groceries that used to be dirt cheap have jumped to jaw-dropping prices (a bag of
potato chips
runs you nearly $7 today compared with about $4.50 before COVID). Consumers don’t measure inflation by holiday meals. They measure it by grocery trips, school lunches, snacks and takeout.
Thanksgiving dinner is cheaper this year, but it doesn’t feel that way because the things we buy weekly — snacks, lunch out, coffee, convenience foods — have increased so much that our baseline expectations are warped. We aren’t reacting to turkey prices; we’re reacting to the accumulated fatigue of two years of stubborn inflation.
Still, even in a year marked by price fatigue, it’s worth highlighting bright spots.
Thanksgiving dinner is cheaper this year, and that’s something to be grateful for. In a season when so much feels out of our control, it’s reassuring to know that gathering around a table and cooking for the people we love remains one of the few traditions that hasn’t been priced out of reach.
Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service
Editorial cartoon by Joe Heller (Joe Heller)
