Editorial: A cheaper Thanksgiving, but no one’s feeling rich
As Thanksgiving approaches, many families are finalizing their plans for the holiday, with AAA projecting a record 1.6 million more travelers compared to last year. This surge in travel underscores the importance of family gatherings during the season. For those hosting, the logistics of preparing a Thanksgiving feast can be daunting, especially when it comes to budgeting for food. Surprisingly, recent reports indicate that the cost of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner is more affordable this year. The American Farm Bureau has calculated that feeding a table of ten will cost approximately $55.18, down from previous years’ figures, making it seem like a more accessible option for families looking to celebrate together.
The affordability of Thanksgiving dinner can largely be attributed to the price of turkey, which remains a staple of the holiday meal. For instance, retailers like Amazon are offering 20-pound Butterball turkeys for just $10, while the average price for a 16-pound turkey is around $21.50. Other essential ingredients, such as rolls and sweet potatoes, are also available at low prices, making it easier for families to prepare a festive meal without breaking the bank. However, this apparent decrease in Thanksgiving costs contrasts sharply with the rising prices of everyday groceries, which have left many consumers feeling financially strained. Items that were once considered affordable, such as snacks and takeout, have seen significant price hikes, leading to a sense of inflation fatigue that overshadows the positive news about Thanksgiving meal costs.
While the headlines celebrating the affordability of Thanksgiving dinner may seem optimistic, they also highlight a broader issue: the disconnect between holiday meal prices and everyday grocery costs. Although cooking at home remains a cost-effective way to enjoy a festive meal, many families are grappling with the cumulative effects of inflation on their regular grocery bills. This year, while Thanksgiving dinner may be cheaper, the lingering impact of rising prices on staple items has altered consumers’ perceptions of affordability. Nevertheless, as families gather around the table, the opportunity to share a homemade meal is a comforting reminder of the traditions that continue to bring us together, even in challenging economic times. This Thanksgiving, amidst the complexities of budgeting and rising costs, there is still much to be thankful for, particularly the chance to connect with loved ones over a shared meal.
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)
