FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 26, 2024
Contact: Bryan Wachter (775) 771-8969 | Bryan@RANNV.org
Thanksgiving Meal Slightly More Affordable This Year
Traditional Meal Prices Drop 5.1 Percent
Thanksgivingmealsare slightly more affordablethisyear, although prices remainhigher than historicalnorms. The cost of a traditional Thanksgivingdinnerhas dropped by5.1 percent fromlast yearto $58.08, continuingthedownwardtrend from 2022's peakprices. However, meal costsare still 18.7 percenthigherthanpre-pandemiclevels in2019, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF)pricesurvey.
This year, the averagecost of a Thanksgivingmealfor 10people was$3.09cheaperthanin 2023. While this reduction offers some relieffor consumers, it underscorespersistent economic pressures,as prices remain $9.17 higher than in2019.InNevada,theRetail Association of Nevada (RAN) forecasts$16.7millionin spendingon Thanksgivingfoodthis year, a 4.6 percent decline from last year but a 25.3percent increase over 2019levels.
Among the 12staples of a traditionalThanksgiving meal,eightitems sawpricedecreases this year. Turkey,the meal's centerpiece, experienced the largestdrop, with the cost of a 16-pound bird declining by $1.68 to $25.67. Other itemsshowing reductionsinclude sweet potatoes (down$1.04),whole milk (down$0.53),pumpkinpie mix (down $0.29)and green peas (down $0.15). Smaller decreases were recordedfor pieshells,veggie traysand miscellaneous ingredients. Not all prices are falling,however. Items suchas rolls (up $0.32), cubed stuffing(up $0.31), fresh cranberries (up $0.25), andwhipping cream(up$0.08) saw modest increases.
Since 1986, the AFBF has conducted annual surveys to monitor Thanksgivingmealcosts, offering insights intotrends in holiday spendingand food price fluctuations.
