Special Report

How Inflation is Making this Thanksgiving More Expensive Than Ever

SDI Productions / Getty Images

Thanks to inflation, the average cost of a Thanksgiving dinner for a family of 10 in the United States will go up 20.2% this year. Families nationwide are trimming back on expenses to combat the worst increase in prices in nearly four decades, but for many, cutting back on the annual tradition of the holiday feast is not an option. 

Of course, this is an average increase of a set Thanksgiving meal as determined by the annual American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual Thanksgiving price survey. The AFBF uses a team of volunteer shoppers around the country to report on local prices. According to the survey, the cost of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for a family of 10 will average $64.05 this year, by far the most since the first survey was conducted in 1986. (click here to see the cost of a thanksgiving dinner the year you were born)  

Using the results of this survey, 24/7 Wall St. ranked the 14 components of a Thanksgiving dinner by the percentage increase in cost from 2021 to 2022. The price of all but one item, fresh cranberries, increased. It should be noted that three of the items on this list, ham, russet potatoes, and green beans, are more recent additions to the AFBF survey and are not included as components of the above traditional thanksgiving dinner figure. (The total cost of a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 with these three items is $81.30.)

The biggest price increase comes from the Thanksgiving dinner staple, stuffing, which is expected to be 70% more expensive than last year. Bread prices have skyrocketed during this inflationary period thanks in part to the war in Ukraine, one of the world’s largest suppliers of grains. While the United States is less reliant on wheat imports than a number of European countries, the Russian invasion of the Eastern European nation has had a domino effect on global supply chains. (These are Ukraine’s leading trading partners.)

Click here to see how inflation is making this Thanksgiving more expensive than ever.

StephanieFrey / iStock via Getty Images

14. Cranberries – 12 oz.
> Change in price, 2021-2022: -13.8% (-$0.41)
> 2022 avg price: $2.57
> 2021 avg price: $2.98

[in-text-ad]

VeselovaElena / iStock via Getty Images

13. Ham, 4 lbs.
> Change in price, 2021-2022: +7.1% (+$0.77)
> 2022 avg price: $11.64
> 2021 avg price: $10.87

murmurbear / iStock via Getty Images

12. Veggie Tray (Carrots & Celery) – 1 lb.
> Change in price, 2021-2022: +7.3% (+$0.06)
> 2022 avg price: $0.88
> 2021 avg price: $0.82

bhofack2 / iStock via Getty Images

11. Sweet Potatoes – 3 lbs.
> Change in price, 2021-2022: +11.2% (+$0.40)
> 2022 avg price: $3.96
> 2021 avg price: $3.56

[in-text-ad-2]

Elena Medoks / iStock via Getty Images

10. Milk – 1 gal.
> Change in price, 2021-2022: +16.4% (+$0.54)
> 2022 avg price: $3.84
> 2021 avg price: $3.30

rez-art / iStock via Getty Images

9. Pumpkin Pie Mix – 30 oz.
> Change in price, 2021-2022: +17.6% (+$0.64)
> 2022 avg price: $4.28
> 2021 avg price: $3.64

[in-text-ad]

bhofack2 / iStock via Getty Images

8. Turkey – 16 lbs.
> Change in price, 2021-2022: +20.7% (+$4.97)
> 2022 avg price: $28.96
> 2021 avg price: $23.99

Manjiri Gujar / iStock via Getty Images

7. Rolls – 1 dozen
> Change in price, 2021-2022: +22.3% (+$0.68)
> 2022 avg price: $3.73
> 2021 avg price: $3.05

smartstock / iStock via Getty Images

6. Russet Potatoes, 5 lbs.
> Change in price, 2021-2022: +23.0% (+$0.68)
> 2022 avg price: $3.64
> 2021 avg price: $2.96

[in-text-ad-2]

sbayram / E+ via Getty Images

5. Peas – 16 oz. frozen
> Change in price, 2021-2022: +23.4% (+$0.36)
> 2022 avg price: $1.90
> 2021 avg price: $1.54

loops7 / iStock via Getty Images

4. Green Beans, 1 lb.
> Change in price, 2021-2022: +24.7% (+$0.39)
> 2022 avg price: $1.97
> 2021 avg price: $1.58

[in-text-ad]

MichellePatrickPhotographyLLC / iStock via Getty Images

3. Whipping Cream – 1/2 pint
> Change in price, 2021-2022: +25.8% (+$0.46)
> 2022 avg price: $2.24
> 2021 avg price: $1.78

Coprid / iStock via Getty Images

2. Pie Shells (2)
> Change in price, 2021-2022: +26.5% (+$0.77)
> 2022 avg price: $3.68
> 2021 avg price: $2.91

bhofack2 / iStock via Getty Images

1. Stuffing – 14 oz. cubed
> Change in price, 2021-2022: +69.4% (+$1.59)
> 2022 avg price: $3.88
> 2021 avg price: $2.29

Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With An Advisor Now (Sponsored)

Are you ready for retirement? Planning for retirement can be overwhelming, that’s why it could be a good idea to speak to a fiduciary financial advisor about your goals today.

Start by taking this retirement quiz right here from SmartAsset that will match you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area and beyond in 5 minutes. Smart Asset is now matching over 50,000 people a month.

Click here now to get started.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.