Reports from a family-owned grocery store chain and Wells Fargo — an American multinational financial services company — show the cost to purchase items for the traditional Thanksgiving meal is down slightly this year.
Another survey conducted by Empower — another financial services company — found 47% of Americans might swap turkey for cheaper alternatives than the tryptophan-filled bird.
Employee Kevin McComsey stocks fried onions at Gerrity’s supermarket in the Keyser Oak Shopping Plaza in Scranton Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Employee of the produce department Mike Taylor puts out bags of cranberries at Gerrity’s supermarket in the Keyser Oak Shopping Plaza in Scranton Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Thanksgiving items are for sale at Gerrity’s supermarket in the Keyser Oak Shopping Plaza in Scranton Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Employee Kevin McComsey stocks fried onions at Gerrity’s supermarket in the Keyser Oak Shopping Plaza in Scranton Thursday, Nov. 13, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
The cost for 15 Thanksgiving dinner staples totals $47.34 this year — a 2.7% decrease from 2024, said Joe Fasula, co-owner of Gerrity’s, which operates 10 supermarkets throughout Lackawanna, Luzerne and Northampton counties. The total also represents a 13.1% decrease from 2022 and a modest 1% decrease from 2023, Fasula added.
The price for a pound of green beans ($1.99) fell the most at Gerrity’s, down $1 from last year. The cost of a 3 lb. bag of sweet potatoes ($2.50) dipped 49 cents and a gallon of whole milk ($4.15) is down 31 cents. The biggest risers are a 16 oz. can of cranberry sauce ($1.50) — up 51 cents — and one bunch of celery ($1.99), which increased by 20 cents.
Gerrity’s customers who spend $400 with their Fresh Grocer Rewards card from Oct. 24 through Nov. 26 — may purchase a 20 lb. Butterball turkey for $16, the same price as last year. The price for a 5 lb. bag of red potatoes ($4.99), a pound of butter ($3.99), two frozen pie crusts ($1.99), a 6 oz. can of French fried onions ($1.99), and a 14 oz. can of chicken broth (.99) also remained flat from 2024.
The price for a pound of yellow onion ($1.29) decreased by 20 cents, a 6 oz. can of cream of mushroom soup (.99) dipped by 10 cents, and a 16 oz. can of pumpkin is a penny cheaper.
Meanwhile, the price of a 22 oz. loaf of bread ($1.49) increased by 10 cents.
“I’m thrilled to report that our customers’ Thanksgiving dinner will cost less than last year,” Fasula said. “Even better, it will also cost them less than it did for the past three years. Many markets have softened, and our Fresh Grocer buying co-op has done an excellent job of helping us secure lower costs to pass along. What helps is beef, which has seen the most significant increases, is not part of the traditional Thanksgiving meal.”
Gerrity’s 2.7% decrease mirrors a report that the cost of this year’s Thanksgiving menu has dropped by 2 to 3%, despite the cost of food at home measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) being up 2.7% from a year ago, depending on the shopper’s strategy, according to the Wells Fargo’s Agri-Food Institute.
Customers who stick to a traditional Thanksgiving menu and shop wisely between national and store brands can experience significant savings, according to the Wells Fargo report, which found estimated retail turkey prices are down 3.7% from 2024 for national brands.
Specifically, consumers should buy private label brands for stuffing, dinner rolls, and gravy mix, according to the Wells Fargo report.
Empower’s Table Stakes study discovered food prices remain a big issue for customers as 26% of Americans plan to pass on celebrating Thanksgiving this year, due to the expense, and 42% intend to curtail their feast. However, 73% say Thanksgiving dinner is still worth the cost despite some higher prices, per the report.
In terms of the untraditional meal items, the Empower report found 38% of consumers will serve roasted chicken and 30% may opt for burgers, pizza or fast food.
Technology also will have a place at the table this year as 35% of Americans — including 47% of millennials — will use artificial intelligence to find grocery deals, with 44% of consumers saying it should make the holiday more affordable.