Thanksgiving costs rise with 70% price increase on turkey

Turkey prices have jumped 70 percent in comparison to this time in 2024, per FarmProgress. However, other items traditionally used for the Thanksgiving feast, such as potatoes, butter, and others, have seen smaller jumps or some declines in pricing. In some places, such as New York City, the Thanksgiving dinner is up 23 percent overall, per the New York Post.

Additionally, a survey of 2,000 US adults found that this year's Thanksgiving celebration, including food, costs for attending gatherings, and other expenses, will be the most expensive Thanksgiving for Americans.

Texas A&M's AgriLife Extension Service economist and professor David Anderson said, “You may see higher prices on some items, but remember that grocery stores always have a strategy for Thanksgiving." Anderson pointed to wholesale prices, which are $1.68 a pound this year, compared to 99 cents a pound in 2024. Two factors have influenced the spike, including avian flu as well as lower overall production of turkeys.

Questions regarding the price of the yearly feast have been brought up as Walmart touted its Thanksgiving bundle this year. In a post from President Donald Trump, he cited the Walmart CEO, who stated that the price for a Thanksgiving bundle this year at the retail giant is 25 percent less in cost than the bundle for last year.

"Walmart just announced that Prices for a Thanksgiving Dinner is now down 25% since under Sleepy/Crooked Joe Biden, in 2024. AFFORDABILITY is a Republican Stronghold. Hopefully, Republicans will use this irrefutable fact!" Trump wrote.

However, many were quick to point out that there are only 15 items in the 2025 bundle, while there were 21 items in the bundle for 2024. A graphic showing the disparity in items spread online after the president posted about the Thanksgiving meal.