INDIANAPOLIS -- Hoosiers may see a slight decrease in the cost of preparing Thanksgiving this year, according to the Indiana Farm Bureau.
Indiana residents can expect to spend around 2% less for this year's Thanksgiving meal compared to 2023. In 2024, Indiana residents can expect to pay an average of $53.31 for a 10-person Thanksgiving dinner, compared to last year's price of $54.64.
Indiana's price for 2024 is around 8% lower than the country's average price for this year's Thanksgiving dinner, which is around $58.08. Officials said that while Indiana is reporting a decrease from 2023, the dinner's cost is 25% higher than it was five years ago.
Todd Davis, the Indiana Farm Bureau's chief economist, said in the release that the main cause of the decrease is the cost of the turkey, which is less than the national average. In Indiana, shoppers can expect to pay around $1.33 per pound, or $21.22 for a 16-pound turkey.
“Indiana ranks third in turkey production, with more than 8.4 million turkeys in the state, according to the latest U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Census of Agriculture,” Davis said in the release. “The turkey accounts for about 44% of the Thanksgiving dinner, so with Indiana in the heart of turkey production and with retail turkey prices down, it isn’t surprising that the turkey is more affordable this year, specifically in the Midwest. The concentration of turkey production in this region provides lower processing and marketing costs, which gets the turkey from the farm to the hands of the consumer efficiently.”
Other items that are less expensive for Hoosiers this year, compared to the national average, include pumpkin pie filling, pie shells and sweet potatoes. Some items also increased in price, including cranberries, whipping cream and milk.
"Many people don’t realize that Indiana is a top-producing state for turkey and pumpkins, so we have many local farmers to thank for our holiday meal this year," Janis Highley, the farm bureau's second vice president, said in the release. "Turkeys also consume a significant amount of soybean and corn meal, top Hoosier farm commodities, so they’re important to our state’s economy too.”
Look below at the average costs for Indiana residents for some of Thanksgiving's key staples:
| Thanksgiving Market Basket Items | 2024 Indiana Costs | 2023 Indiana Costs | % Change of Indiana Costs (2023 to 2024) | % Difference between 2024 Indiana Costs and 2024 U.S. Average |
| Turkey (16 lb.) | $21.22 | $22.11 | -4% | -17.3% |
| Stuffing (14 oz. package) | $3.82 | $3.69 | 3.5% | -6.4% |
| Pumpkin pie filling mix (30 oz. can) | $3.78 | $4.82 | -21.6% | -8.9% |
| Pie shells, 9 in. (2 per package) | $3.37 | $2.89 | 16.6% | -0.9% |
| Sweet potatoes (3 lb.) | $3.47 | $4.02 | -13.7% | 18.4% |
| Rolls (1 doz.) | $3.52 | $3.65 | -3.6% | -15.4% |
| Peas (16 oz. package, frozen) | $1.66 | $1.71 | -3% | -4% |
| Veggie tray (.5 lb. each, fresh carrots and celery) | $0.96 | $0.93 | 3.2% | 14.3% |
| Whole milk (gal.) | $3.14 | $3.04 | 3.9% | -2.2% |
| Cranberries (fresh, 1 lb. package) | $2.74 | $2.26 | 21.2% | 16.6% |
| Whipping cream (1/2 pint) | $1.88 | $1.56 | 20.5% | 3.9% |
| Misc. ingredients (such as coffee, butter, onions, eggs, sugar and flour) | $3.75 | $3.95 | -5.1% | 0% |
| Average total meal price (for a group of 10 individuals) | $53.31 | $54.64 | -2.4% | -8.2% |
Local shoppers believe it is great news that Indiana's Thanksgiving dinner price is decreasing.
"I am pretty surprised actually like the cost of everything going down with the turkey being said. I like turkey, so the more turkey the merrier, the better," Brandon Richey, a local shopper, said.
The release said that the bureau's Thanksgiving market survey was conducted earlier this month by volunteer shoppers across the state. Shoppers were asked to look for the best possible prices without coupons or other deals on specific food items from local grocery stores.