The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 38th annual survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of this year’s classic holiday feast for 10.
By the numbers: The average cost of a classic Thanksgiving dinner for 10 is $61.17 or less than $6.20 per person. While it sits is a 4.5 percent decrease from last year, the meal is still 25 percent higher than it was in before the COVID pandemic in 2019..
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- The average price for a 16-pound turkey is $27.35, up 32 percent from 2019.
- The overall cost of the meal increases to $84.75 if boneless ham, Russet potatoes, and frozen green beans are added.
- While turkey prices are up between pre- and post-pandemic eras, prices have cooled courtesy of a reduction in cases of avian influenza.
The backstory: The American Farm Bureau Federation has been conducting their Thanksgiving dinner survey since 1986. Farm Bureau’s shopping list for the survey includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a veggie tray, and pumpkin pie with whipped cream.
- Prices for cubed stuffing mix, frozen pie crusts, whipping cream, frozen peas, dinner rolls, and miscellaneous ingredients for the meal have all decreased in the past year.
- The cost of canned pumpkin pie mix, whole milk, sweet potatoes, a veggie tray, and fresh cranberries has either increased or remained relatively stable.
- The Midwest has the most affordable cost for both the classic meal and the expanded meal, while the Northeast has the highest cost.
