US Turkey Prices Plummet Amid Supply Chain Woes, Fueling Holiday Inflation Concerns
As Thanksgiving draws near, turkey prices are soaring ahead of the holiday, with wholesale frozen turkeys expected to cost $1.32 per pound this year – a 40% jump from last year's average price of $0.94 per pound. The surge in prices is largely due to supply chain issues, including avian flu outbreaks that have decimated turkey populations.
The United States Agriculture Department estimates that farmers will only raise around 195 million turkeys in 2025, down from 200 million in 2024 – a decline of nearly 3%. This reduction in supply has contributed to the price hike. Avian flu outbreaks, particularly those affecting over half a million turkeys this month alone, have further exacerbated the issue.
As retailers try to mitigate the impact on consumer prices, several companies are offering deals to attract budget-conscious customers. Walmart announced that it will be selling Butterball turkeys for $0.97 per pound this year, while grocery chain Aldi is offering a similar deal at $40 for 10 people. However, experts warn that these discounts may not necessarily translate to significant savings for consumers.
Retailers typically use turkeys as "loss leaders" – pricing them very competitively or even below cost to draw shoppers into stores ahead of Thanksgiving, according to David Ortega, a professor and food economist at Michigan State University. While the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal has decreased from $58 in 2024 to an estimated price yet this year, higher wholesale prices for turkeys are likely to result in slightly higher prices at the grocery store.
However, CBS News' price tracker shows that prices for other Thanksgiving dinner ingredients like butter and potatoes have remained relatively unchanged compared to last year. As a result, consumers may not feel the full brunt of the turkey price surge on their Thanksgiving tables this year.
As Thanksgiving draws near, turkey prices are soaring ahead of the holiday, with wholesale frozen turkeys expected to cost $1.32 per pound this year – a 40% jump from last year's average price of $0.94 per pound. The surge in prices is largely due to supply chain issues, including avian flu outbreaks that have decimated turkey populations.
The United States Agriculture Department estimates that farmers will only raise around 195 million turkeys in 2025, down from 200 million in 2024 – a decline of nearly 3%. This reduction in supply has contributed to the price hike. Avian flu outbreaks, particularly those affecting over half a million turkeys this month alone, have further exacerbated the issue.
As retailers try to mitigate the impact on consumer prices, several companies are offering deals to attract budget-conscious customers. Walmart announced that it will be selling Butterball turkeys for $0.97 per pound this year, while grocery chain Aldi is offering a similar deal at $40 for 10 people. However, experts warn that these discounts may not necessarily translate to significant savings for consumers.
Retailers typically use turkeys as "loss leaders" – pricing them very competitively or even below cost to draw shoppers into stores ahead of Thanksgiving, according to David Ortega, a professor and food economist at Michigan State University. While the average cost of a Thanksgiving meal has decreased from $58 in 2024 to an estimated price yet this year, higher wholesale prices for turkeys are likely to result in slightly higher prices at the grocery store.
However, CBS News' price tracker shows that prices for other Thanksgiving dinner ingredients like butter and potatoes have remained relatively unchanged compared to last year. As a result, consumers may not feel the full brunt of the turkey price surge on their Thanksgiving tables this year.
The rise in turkey prices is really getting my feathers ruffled! With supply chain issues and avian flu outbreaks hitting turkey populations hard, it's no wonder prices are soaring ahead of Thanksgiving. I mean, who can afford a $1.32 per pound turkey? 
️ It's crazy to think that farmers will only be raising around 195 million turkeys this year, down from 200 million in 2024 - that's like, a lot of birds not being raised! 
And what about all those extra ingredients needed to make that Thanksgiving meal - butter, potatoes, stuffing... they're not going down in price anytime soon! 
I'm not surprised the prices are up, but it's still gonna be a bummer for people on a tight budget 
and stuff. Maybe some smart shoppers can find ways to save money by buyin' in bulk or lookin for deals like Walmart's 
. Fingers crossed the prices don't go up too much at the grocery store 
!
It's also good to know that other Thanksgiving dinner ingredients like butter and potatoes haven't seen a big increase in price, so maybe we won't feel the full impact of the turkey prices this year. That's some positive news for consumers! 
- 40 bucks for 10 people? That's more like it! 
. Like, who's gonna be able to afford that $1.32 per pound? 
I mean, it's one thing to save a buck on turkey, but it's another thing when you gotta choose between that and other essentials. Can we really trust the discounts from Walmart and Aldi? They're just gonna push the prices up somewhere else, right? 