Prices For Wholesale Turkey To Soar This Thanksgiving

Turkeys aren’t known for flying but their prices are soaring ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday. A September outlook report from the United States Agriculture Department estimates that wholesale prices for frozen turkeys will be $1.32 per pound this year, a 40% increase from 2024’s average of $0.94 per pound.  The wholesale price is what retailers pay to buy items in bulk. Retailers then decide how much they want to charge consumers.  The reason the birds — traditionally the centerpiece at the Thanksgiving table — are getting more expensive comes down to supply. The number of available turkeys has shrunk in recent years amid slightly weakened demand and avian flu outbreaks, according to USDA data.  More than 3 million turkeys have been impacted by bird flu outbreaks this year, including over half a million this month alone, USDA data shows.

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That translates to less turkeys: USDA forecasts that farmers raised around 195 million turkeys in 2025 compared with 200 million in 2024, a 3% decrease. To be sure, the number of turkeys in supply has been sliding over the last decade. In 2016, farmers raised around 245 million turkeys, roughly 50 million more than today’s supply. Amid the rise in wholesale turkey prices, several companies are floating deals in an attempt to win over budget-conscious customers.  Walmart announced that it is offering Butterball turkeys for $0.97 per pound this year. The retailer also said its 10-person meal deal will cost under $4 per person. Grocery chain Aldi has offered a similar deal, at $40 for 10 people.

Source: CBS News