Editorial: A cheaper Thanksgiving, but no one’s feeling rich
As Thanksgiving approaches, many Americans are finalizing their plans for the holiday, with AAA projecting a record 1.6 million more travelers this year compared to last. This surge in travel reflects a strong desire to connect with family and friends during this cherished holiday. For those hosting Thanksgiving dinners, the preparations can be overwhelming, especially when it comes to budgeting for the meal. However, recent reports suggest that the cost of Thanksgiving dinner is surprisingly more affordable this year, with the American Farm Bureau estimating that the average cost to feed a table of ten is around $55.18, a decrease from previous years.
The affordability of Thanksgiving dinner can be attributed to competitive pricing on essential items, particularly the turkey, which remains the centerpiece of the feast. Retailers like Amazon are offering 20-pound Butterball turkeys for as low as $10, making it easier for families to stick to a budget. Other staples, such as rolls and sweet potatoes, are also available at reasonable prices, contributing to the overall lower cost of the holiday meal. However, while these figures may seem encouraging, they contrast sharply with the everyday experiences of consumers who have been grappling with rising food prices across the board. Items that were once inexpensive, like snacks and convenience foods, have seen significant price hikes, leading to a sense of financial strain that overshadows the perceived savings on Thanksgiving dinner.
Despite the mixed feelings surrounding food prices, the fact that Thanksgiving dinner is cheaper this year offers a glimmer of hope in a time of economic uncertainty. Cooking a holiday meal at home remains a viable option for families looking to save money, allowing them to enjoy a traditional gathering without breaking the bank. As many Americans face ongoing inflationary pressures, the ability to come together around a table for a home-cooked meal is a comforting reminder of the enduring value of family traditions. This year, as we give thanks for the blessings in our lives, it’s worth appreciating that the spirit of Thanksgiving—sharing food and love with those we cherish—has not been priced out of reach.
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)
