DENVER — As Americans sit down to Thanksgiving dinner next week, the cost of feeding 10 guests will be less than last year but still quite a bit more than it was pre-pandemic.
The American Farm Bureau Federation on Thursday released its annual report on Thanksgiving dinner, putting the average national cost at $61.17 for 10 people, which is down 4.5% from 2022. That's about $6.12 per guest.
Still, the cost is up 25% from 2019, when it was $53.31.
The cost drop from 2022 is thanks mostly to a decrease in the cost of the dinner centerpiece, the turkey, which has historically accounted for about 43% of the total price of the meal. In 2023, a 16-pound frozen whole turkey is about $27.35 – a 5.6% decrease from 2022. Turkeys are less expensive this year because of a decrease in avian influenza cases and the recovery of turkey flocks.
The cost for the Western United States, including Colorado, is higher than the national average, at $63.89.
The items included in the American Farm Bureau Federation's calculation:
- 16-pound frozen turkey: $27.35
- Pumpkin pie mix, 30-ounce can: $4.44
- Dinner rolls, a dozen: $3.84
- Heavy whipping cream, half a pint: $1.73
- Fresh cranberries, 12 ounces: $2.10
- Sweet potatoes, 3 pounds: $3.97
- Carrots and celery, 1/2 pound each: 90 cents
- Green peas, 16 ounces: $1.88
- Two 9-inch pie shells: $3.50
- Cube stuffing, 14 ounces: $3.77
- Whole milk, 1 gallon: $3.74
“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,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said in a news release. “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."
“While high food prices are a concern for every family, America still has one of the most affordable food supplies in the world," Duvall said. "We’ve accomplished that, in part, due to strong farm bill programs.”
The average cost was calculated using 245 surveys with pricing data from all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
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