Thanksgiving meal costs drop 2% to 3% this year: See how to save
With Thanksgiving just 17 days away, many have begun planning their meals and shopping for grocery staples, some of which might look a little more affordable this year.
According to a new report from the Wells Fargo Agri-Food Institute, despite a 2.7% increase of "food-at-home" prices in 2025 as measured by the Consumer Price Index, the overall cost of a Thanksgiving menu is decreasing this year by about 2% to 3%, "depending on the shopper's strategy."
"At the heart of the uptick in the CPI's food-at-home increase is protein, specifically beef and eggs, which are not on the Thanksgiving menu," the report states. "Without those items, consumers will find relief in a traditional Thanksgiving meal."
According to the Agri-Food report, shopping strategies also matter: An "all private-label (store brand) menu comes in at $80, while an all national-name brand menu totals $95," the report states.
Phil Lempert, a food industry analyst and editor of supermarketguru.com, broke down the price savings Monday on "Good Morning America."
"What they're saying is if for 10 people, you want to serve Thanksgiving, it's going to cost you $95 if you go for the brand names. But, if you go for the store brands, it's only going to be $80. And that's significant," Lempert said.
Shoppers can also mix and match store-branded staples, like gravy, dinner rolls and stuffing, to save even more.
For one essential side dish -- cranberries -- Wells Fargo recommends sticking with national brands to maximize savings. National brands are also offering more discounts for frozen vegetables this year so don't assume store brands will have the cheaper option there.
For the star of the table, the turkey, prices are expected to drop as producers hit their peak supply. Experts recommend shopping early to snag the best bird.
For sweet tooths, the good news is that pumpkin pie prices from national brands have fallen about 3% this year, according to Wells Fargo.
"Have that shopping list, go online, look at all the different prices and be willing to go to two or three different stores," Lempert recommended. "You can save a lot of money."
See which retailers are offering additional Thanksgiving meal discounts here.
