The Gobbler Is Cheaper This Year
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 28th annual informal price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $49.04, a 44¢ decrease from last year’s average of $49.48.
While not adjusted for inflation, the first price survey was $28.74 (1986), the lowest was $24.51 (1987), and the highest was $49.20 (2011).
The cost of this year’s meal, at less than $5 per serving, remains an excellent value for consumers,” said AFBF President Bob Stallman, a rice and cattle producer from Texas.
The AFBF survey shopping list includes turkey, bread stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls with butter, peas, cranberries, a relish tray of carrots and celery, pumpkin pie with whipped cream, and beverages of coffee and milk, all in quantities sufficient to serve a family of 10. There is also plenty for leftovers.

The big-ticket item, a 16-lb. turkey, came in at $21.76 this year. That was roughly $1.36/lb., a decrease of about 3¢/lb., or a total of 47¢ per whole turkey, compared to 2012. The whole bird was the biggest contributor to the final total, showing the largest price decrease compared to last year.
Sadly, calories have not decreased.
While Farm Bureau does not make any scientific claims about the data, it is an informal gauge of price trends around the nation. Farm Bureau’s survey menu has remained unchanged since 1986 to allow for consistent price comparisons.