Thanksgiving dinner will cost less this year. How much you'll pay for turkey and sides

Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Nov 20, 2024

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Every year the president pardons two Thanksgiving turkeys and then tells Americans how much their dinner may cost.

This year, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the average Thanksgiving meal should cost an average of $58.08 for 10 people.

“Prices are down for turkey, stuffing, peas, cranberries, pie crust and whipping cream. … Because wages are rising, this Thanksgiving dinner is the fourth-cheapest ever as a percentage of average earnings,” she said in a statement.

Jean-Pierre’s source is the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual Thanksgiving dinner cost tracker, which bases its information on shoppers who check national prices in the first week of November (Nov. 1-6).

“While shoppers will see a slight improvement in the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner, high inflation continues to hammer families across the country, including the nation’s farmers,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “Growing the food families rely on is a constant challenge for farmers because of high fuel, seed, fertilizer, and transportation costs, just to name a few.”

So, let’s discuss the cost breakdown of a 2024 Thanksgiving dinner and how this year compares to the past few.

Is a 2024 Thanksgiving dinner cheaper than 2023?

The American Farm Bureau Federation says that this year’s prices are a five percent decrease from the previous year. In 2023, the average price for a turkey dinner was $61.17, better than 2022’s record high of $64.05.

— 2022: $64.05

— 2021: $53.31

— 2020: $46.90

— 2019: $48.91

As you can see, the 2024 price is still 19% higher than a pre-pandemic Thanksgiving dinner in 2019.

However, this year’s prices are cheaper than last year mainly because of a six percent drop in turkey prices.

What is the most expensive portion of a Thanksgiving dinner?

Turkeys are the most expensive part of a Thanksgiving dinner. American Farm Bureau Federation claims that they account for 43% of the cost of the meal. For 10 people, the turkey would be around 16 pounds and about 44.2% of the food.

Where you live in the U.S. can also make a difference. AFBF predicts that the South will have the cheapest average, at $56.81. However, Western America will spend around $67.81, the Midwest, $58.90, and the Northeast, $57.36.

The American Farm Bureau predicts that the turkey and the following sides will cost an average of this much money in 2024:

— 16 pound turkey: $25.67

— 12 ounce cranberries: $2.35

— 3 pounds sweet potatoes: $2.93

— A half of a pound for each carrots and celery: $0.84

— 16 ounces green peas: $1.73

— Two nine-inch pie shells: $3.40

— 14 ounces cubed stuffing: $4.08

— One dozen dinner rolls: $4.16

— 30 ounces pumpkin pie mix: $4.15

— One gallon of whole milk $3.21

— A half pint of whipping cream: $1.81

Where are the cheapest grocery stores to shop in North Texas?

According to U.S. World and Report, the cheapest Texas grocery stores in 2024 are:

— WinCo Foods

— Aldi

— Costco

— Sam’s Club

There are also grocery stores like Aldi, which is offering Thanksgiving basket bundles. Aldi’s bundle is below the national average at $47, or $4.70 a person, and it feeds 10 people.

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