Thanksgiving Prices Dip as Inflation Concerns Grow: A Focus on Affordability Strategies

By Larry Bell
December 1, 2025 / 12:31 PM EST

As Thanksgiving concludes for another year, a wave of gratitude washes over consumers who are facing lower costs at the dinner table. According to data from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), an average turkey weighing 16 pounds is priced around $21.50 this season, marking a significant decrease compared to previous years.

The farm group’s comprehensive survey reveals that preparing a Thanksgiving feast for ten people averages approximately $55.18 nationwide – roughly $5.52 per person – representing a general downward trend in holiday expenses since last year.

Notably, other traditional menu components also experienced price reductions: stuffing decreased by 9%, dinner rolls dropped by 14.6%, and pumpkin pie crusts followed suit with similar markdowns alongside cranberries and miscellaneous ingredients showing welcome decreases too.
The situation remains somewhat complex due to higher prices for certain fresh produce like sweet potatoes (up 37%) and celery/ carrots (both up approximately 61%), though these items typically constitute a smaller portion of the overall Thanksgiving budget.

Furthermore, government reports indicate even lower average nationwide costs for whole frozen turkeys compared to fresh ones. While helpful, these affordability numbers might still be slightly inflated given recent market conditions before hitting true bargain levels.
Retailers like Walmart have already demonstrated this trend by offering full meal baskets priced about 25% lower than previous holiday seasons, while Target has introduced packages suitable for four people at surprisingly accessible rates. Discount retailers Aldi and Lidl continue to expand their Thanksgiving promotional offerings.

Despite these positive developments in the immediate consumer sphere, the nation’s broader economic dialogue continues to center on affordability as crucial mid-term elections approach. The challenge extends beyond seasonal shopping; it involves ensuring sustained purchasing power across all sectors of American life based upon meaningful value assessments necessary for maintaining living standards.
This concept requires vigilance regarding both supply-side dynamics and regulatory environments that impact price stability.

The United States has seen notable shifts in consumer spending patterns following the implementation of various economic policies. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) saw considerable fluctuation over recent years, reflecting changing market conditions and policy impacts.
Government borrowing initiatives significantly altered inflation trajectories across many categories within the past four decades.

Recent affordability-focused measures announced by companies like Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk demonstrate potential positive outcomes in controlling healthcare expenses through strategic partnerships with American manufacturers. These developments mirror broader trends encouraged under certain administrations to strengthen domestic industries while also reflecting international trade dynamics.
The current administration’s policy initiatives appear designed not only to promote short-term consumer relief but potentially more significantly, to reverse previous economic pressures.

Larry Bell is an endowed professor of space architecture at the University of Houston where he founded the Sasakawa International Center for Space Architecture and the graduate space architecture program. His latest book focusing on design principles contains extensive commentary regarding economic policy trends in recent decades within a broader societal context.
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