LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative Chris Freeland
This year, on Thursday, November 28th, families from around the United States will gather to celebrate Thanksgiving. For many Americans, Thanksgiving is a time filled with traditions, like watching the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, watching football games, spending time with friends and family, and having Thanksgiving dinner.
In preparation for Thanksgiving dinner, families head to the grocery store to get the all the necessary items to make a delicious meal with all the traditional Thanksgiving staples. As many have noticed, food prices have gradually increased over the past few years, which has subsequently impacted the price of Thanksgiving dinner.
Since 1986, the American Farm Bureau Federation has conducted its annual dinner survey to find the average cost of a classic Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people by compiling pricing data from states across the U.S. The average cost of the classic Thanksgiving dinner is calculated by adding up the prices of a 16-pound turkey, 14 ounces of cubed stuffing, three pounds of sweet potatoes, 12 dinner rolls, one pound of green peas, 12 ounces of fresh cranberries, a one-pound veggie tray (carrots and celery), thirty ounces of pumpkin pie mix, two pie shells, a ½ pint of whipping cream, and one gallon of whole milk.
Since 2018, the American Farm Bureau Federation has also tracked the average cost of an updated Thanksgiving dinner for 10 people. The average cost of the updated Thanksgiving dinner is calculated by adding up adding the cost of four pounds of ham, five pounds of russet potatoes, and one pound of green beans to the cost of the classic Thanksgiving dinner.
Five years ago, the classic Thanksgiving dinner cost $48.91 ($4.89 per person), while the updated Thanksgiving dinner cost $62.32 ($6.23 per person). While the cost of both the classic and updated Thanksgiving dinner dropped slightly in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, prices for both Thanksgiving dinners increased again in 2021. The most staggering price increase for both Thanksgiving dinners came in 2022 when inflation was at its peak. In 2022, it cost $64.05 ($6.41 per person) for the classic Thanksgiving dinner and $81.30 ($8.13 per person) for the updated Thanksgiving dinner- a $10.74 and $12.58 increase from 2021, respectively. Then, in 2023, the price of the classic Thanksgiving dinner decreased to $61.17 ($6.12 per person), and the price of the updated Thanksgiving dinner increased slightly to $84.75 ($8.48 per person).
The 2024 American Farm Bureau Thanksgiving dinner survey results have not been released yet, but are expected to be released next week. However, Wells Fargo’s Agri-Food Institute released a report this week analyzing percentage increases and decreases from 2023 to 2024 for name and store brand Thanksgiving staples, which give insights into factors that will likely affect the American Farm Bureau’s Thanksgiving dinner survey results this year. For example, name brand turkeys are down 2% from 2023, while store brand turkeys are up 5%. Name brand stuffing is up 9% from 2023, and store brand stuffing is up 3%. A 12-ounce bag of name brand fresh-cranberries is down 3% from 2023, while a 12-ounce bag of store brand fresh-cranberries is up 6%. Lastly, name and store brand dinner rolls are up 3% from 2023.
In response to increased food prices, grocery stores and major retailers have created “inflation-free” Thanksgiving meal deals to make Thanksgiving dinner more affordable for families. This year, Aldi’s Thanksgiving meal deal feeds 10 people for $47; Walmart’s Thanksgiving meal deal feeds eight people for less than $7 per person; and Target’s Thanksgiving meal deal feeds four people for $20.
While Thanksgiving has become known for its delicious food, I would like to encourage us all to pause and reflect on the real meaning of the holiday – to express thanks and gratitude for our many blessings. This Thanksgiving, I would like to thank our hard-working farmers who make Thanksgiving dinner possible. Regardless of how much Thanksgiving dinner costs this year, we still have many things to be thankful for, like our freedom, families, and the food on our tables.
As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at Chris.Freeland@kylegislature.gov and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.