NY Thanksgiving Dinner Will Cost 26% More, Thanks To Inflation: Study

NEW YORK CITY — Thanks inflation! A traditional Thanksgiving dinner this year in New York will cost $66.39 on average, a new survey found.

Many New Yorkers likely will have the stuffing scared out of them by the cost, which is a 26 percent jump over last year’s price, according to New York Farm Bureau’s 2022 Market Basket Survey.

And, for New Yorkers better at gobbling food than calculating comparisons, last year’s average price was $52.59.

“General inflation slashing the purchasing power of consumers is a significant factor contributing to the increase in average cost of this year’s Thanksgiving dinner,” said Roger Cryan, the chief economist for the American Farm Bureau Federation, in a statement.

Inflation has been an issue that most New Yorkers aren’t thankful for this year.

Overall prices in the New York City region were up 6 percent for the year, according to October’s inflation numbers.

And food prices were up 8.6 percent from last year, the same Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed.

Sure enough, when New York Farm Bureau volunteer shoppers went to the stores, they saw higher prices, according to the survey.

All Thanksgiving food items surveyed — except for fresh cranberries — were up, the survey found.

“The most notable increases were for stuffing mix, brown-and-serve rolls, and frozen pie crusts,” the study states.

Turkey prices in particular are up this year, the survey found. A 16-pound turkey in New York costs $30.31 on average, compared to $28.96 nationally.

“The higher retail turkey cost at the grocery store can also be attributed to a slightly smaller flock this year, increased feed costs and lighter processing weights,” Cryan said.

Cryan said supply chain issues and the war in Ukraine both also helped contribute to higher overall costs for Thanksgiving dinners.

For New Yorkers who want to add a bone-in ham, Russett potatoes and frozen green beans to their Thanksgiving spread, the overall meal’s cost went even higher: $82.16, according to the survey.

The New York Farm Bureau noted the survey isn’t scientific, but is meant provide a snapshot of what shoppers may find leading up to the holiday.

Read the full survey here.