A Thanksgiving Turkey? Better Watch Your Wallet.
As the holiday season approaches, many Americans are planning their Thanksgiving feasts. This year, however, it's not all about overindulgence and breaking the bank – according to a new survey by the Illinois Farm Bureau, grocery prices for turkey have taken a significant hit compared to last year.
The national average price of a 16-pound frozen turkey has dropped by a whopping 16.3% from $25.75 in 2024 to just $21.50, or $1.34 per pound. This reduction is attributed to lower consumer demand and fewer farms affected by the devastating Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreaks.
While this might be music to your ears, not all side dishes are created equal. Prices for certain items have actually increased – sweet potatoes rose by 37%, while veggie trays jumped a staggering 61%. The Illinois Farm Bureau attributes these rises to hurricane damage and volatile vegetable prices affected by supply chain disruptions and labor shortages.
Despite some unexpected price hikes, the overall cost of a Thanksgiving meal remains relatively reasonable. According to the survey, the statewide average price for a 10-person meal dropped from $59.44 in 2024 to $49.20 this year, marking a 5% decline since 2023.
While consumers may be breathing a sigh of relief over lower turkey prices, larger retailers still hold the power when it comes to negotiating bulk deals, which can result in even better value for shoppers.
With inflation and food costs on the rise, it's refreshing to see some relief at the grocery store – especially around the holidays. So go ahead, take advantage of those discounted turkeys, but be sure to keep an eye out for any price bumps during the rest of your meal prep.
As the holiday season approaches, many Americans are planning their Thanksgiving feasts. This year, however, it's not all about overindulgence and breaking the bank – according to a new survey by the Illinois Farm Bureau, grocery prices for turkey have taken a significant hit compared to last year.
The national average price of a 16-pound frozen turkey has dropped by a whopping 16.3% from $25.75 in 2024 to just $21.50, or $1.34 per pound. This reduction is attributed to lower consumer demand and fewer farms affected by the devastating Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza outbreaks.
While this might be music to your ears, not all side dishes are created equal. Prices for certain items have actually increased – sweet potatoes rose by 37%, while veggie trays jumped a staggering 61%. The Illinois Farm Bureau attributes these rises to hurricane damage and volatile vegetable prices affected by supply chain disruptions and labor shortages.
Despite some unexpected price hikes, the overall cost of a Thanksgiving meal remains relatively reasonable. According to the survey, the statewide average price for a 10-person meal dropped from $59.44 in 2024 to $49.20 this year, marking a 5% decline since 2023.
While consumers may be breathing a sigh of relief over lower turkey prices, larger retailers still hold the power when it comes to negotiating bulk deals, which can result in even better value for shoppers.
With inflation and food costs on the rise, it's refreshing to see some relief at the grocery store – especially around the holidays. So go ahead, take advantage of those discounted turkeys, but be sure to keep an eye out for any price bumps during the rest of your meal prep.
it's a big deal! I'm not surprised prices are dropping for turkey tho, all those farms struggling with bird flu 
anyway, it's good to see some relief for families who wanna enjoy the holiday without breaking the bank 
sweet potatoes and veggie trays though... still crazy expensive 
guess that's just part of the price we pay for convenience 
Yaaas, turkey prices are on a roll this year! 
That 16.3% drop is huge, it's like they're handing out free cash at the grocery store. But let's not get too excited just yet, those sweet potato and veggie tray price hikes are a major bummer 
. Still, I guess that's just part of the game when you're shopping around the holidays. At least we can all breathe a little easier knowing our turkey budgets aren't going to be as crazy as they were last year. 
. But on the flip side, some of those side dishes like sweet potatoes and veggie trays are up in price, which is not ideal. Still, overall it looks like Thanksgiving meals won't be too pricey this year 
.
! my family has been dreading the cost of our Thanksgiving feast this year, and now it seems like we might actually be able to stay within budget 
any tips or tricks for finding deals that won't break the bank? 
just got word that turkey prices have dropped by 16.3% this year! That's some serious savings, especially if you're planning a big feast like Thanksgiving 
. And while it's awesome to see lower costs on the bird itself, be careful not to get caught out by price hikes elsewhere - sweet potatoes are up 37%! 
plus u can always try to negotiate with retailers for bulk deals 
