By Andi Anderson
Indiana families preparing for Thanksgiving can expect their holiday meal to cost about the same as last year, according to the Indiana Farm Bureau’s annual market basket survey.
The survey found that the total price of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for ten people averages $53.62 in 2025, which is only a 0.6% increase from 2024. This is lower than the national average of $55.18.
A major part of the meal’s stability comes from turkey prices. The expected cost of a 16-pound turkey is $21.09, almost unchanged from the previous year. Indiana Farm Bureau Chief Economist Todd Davis explained that produce prices were the main contributors to the slight increase.
Carrots and celery increased by 43 cents, sweet potatoes by 30 cents, pumpkin pie filling by 24 cents, and peas by 14 cents.
“Fresh produce markets can be very volatile, and many of these items saw an increase in wholesale and retail prices nationally,” Davis said. He also noted that “Those retail prices reflect an increase in factors beyond the farm gate, including transportation, labor, fuel, packaging and more that contribute to the overall increased cost of the product.”
The Farm Bureau’s price calculation includes turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, rolls, peas, a carrot and celery veggie tray, whole milk, cranberries, whipping cream, ingredients for pumpkin pie, and other basic baking items.
Volunteer shoppers across Indiana conducted the survey in early November, searching for everyday prices without using coupons or special discounts.
Turkey makes up 39% of the total meal cost. Indiana’s strong turkey production—ranking fourth in the nation—helps keep turkey prices about 2% below the national average. As Davis explained, “The concentration of turkey production in this region provides lower processing and marketing costs, which gets the turkey from the farm to the Thanksgiving table efficiently.”
Even with this year’s stable prices, the cost of a Thanksgiving meal in Indiana is still about 25% higher than in 2019 due to post-pandemic inflation. The meal cost $42.66 in 2019 and peaked at $61 in 2022 before decreasing.
The Farm Bureau also highlighted U.S. Department of Agriculture data showing that farmers receive only 15.9 cents of every food dollar. As Janis Highley explained, “Many consumers don’t realize that farmers are price-takers, just like them. We don’t set the prices, and the amount farmers are being paid doesn’t cover the increase of their input expenses.”
President Donald Trump recently stated that prices are falling, citing WalMart’s Thanksgiving bundle being 25% less. However, this year’s bundle contains fewer items than in 2024.
Photo Credit: indiana-farm-bureau
Categories: Indiana, Rural Lifestyle