Why Your Thanksgiving Turkey Could Cost 25% More This Year

A Holiday Staple Becomes a Luxury Item

Thanksgiving dinner could take a bigger bite out of family budgets this year, as turkey prices soar across the country. Retail prices are up 25% from last year, while wholesale prices have climbed nearly 75%, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Purdue University’s College of Agriculture. The sharp increase stems from one major culprit: avian flu, which has decimated flocks and strained the national turkey supply chain.

Bird Flu Outbreaks and Shrinking Supply

The U.S. turkey population has dropped to its lowest level in nearly 40 years, the American Farm Bureau Federation reports. Purdue analysts estimate that wholesale prices jumped from 94 cents to $1.71 per pound over the past year, pushing the average retail price to $2.05 per pound this November. For consumers, that means paying around $31 for a 15-pound turkey—before factoring in organic or specialty varieties that cost even more.

Retailers Feel the Pressure

Timing and supply-chain relationships are playing a critical role in how much consumers will pay. Retailers who locked in their turkey orders early are faring better than those buying at steep spot-market prices. Major chains like Walmart, Aldi, Amazon, and Target are using Thanksgiving meal bundles to draw in shoppers—with deals ranging from $20 to $56. Others, including ShopRite and BJ’s, are offering free turkeys with minimum purchase thresholds.

Strategies for a Budget-Friendly Feast

Experts suggest flexibility this season. Choosing ham or dark turkey meat can help keep costs down. Smaller, local grocers like Stew Leonard’s say they’ve maintained last year’s prices thanks to long-term partnerships with farms unaffected by bird flu. But nationwide, higher costs may linger into 2026 unless flocks rebound.