Thanksgiving Meal Costs Dip 0.4% to $78.93
Wells Fargo's annual survey finds the price of a Thanksgiving dinner for 10 slipped from last year, with six of 10 items cheaper.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Inflation
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The price of a Thanksgiving meal for 10 fell 0.4% from a year earlier to $78.93, according to a Wells Fargo report. Six of the 10 standard food items in the report cost less than they did a year ago.
Why it matters
The report offers a snapshot of holiday grocery costs for American households as they plan Thanksgiving spending. Because prices vary by store and by the dishes families choose, the total reflects one standardized basket rather than every household's experience.
The Wells Fargo tally of 10 standard Thanksgiving items puts a meal for 10 at $78.93, down 0.4% from last year, with turkey down 0.5%, cranberries down 6.6% and frozen vegetables down 4.2%. The basket is a single standardized set of items, so it does not capture regional or menu-specific variation, and the report does not project prices beyond the holiday.
The details
Wells Fargo's report tracks the cost of 10 standard Thanksgiving food items and finds six of them cheaper than a year ago. Prices vary depending on where families shop and which dishes they prepare, so the total is a benchmark rather than a fixed bill.
Timeline
2025: Prior-year Thanksgiving meal price used as the comparison baseline.
- 2026-11-26
Thanksgiving holiday, two weeks after the report date.
Inflation Trend
Measured against Wells Fargo's annual Thanksgiving survey, this year's 0.4% decline is a small move that reverses the direction of the basket's prior-year comparison. The result shows holiday food costs easing modestly even as the broader inflation picture is set by other measures.
For a household planning Thanksgiving, the $78.93 benchmark for 10 people offers a rough budget reference, though the actual bill will depend on store choice and menu. Turkey, cranberries and frozen vegetables all cost less than last year in this basket.
The takeaway
Holiday meal costs can be managed by comparing prices across stores and adjusting menu items, since individual staples moved in different directions this year. Checking unit prices before buying helps households stay within budget.
Further reading
Track broader price pressures in our Inflation coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WFXG FOX54.
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