Americans expected to spend $991.16 million on Thanksgiving turkey in 2018

We’ll spend less on the main course this year, despite a higher number of turkeys forecast.

For most Americans, roasting a turkey is a Thanksgiving Day tradition. In fact, up to 85% of Americans say they’ll consume this main course as part of the celebration, totaling some 45 million turkeys eaten on Thanksgiving, according to the National Turkey Federation.

In 2017, 277 million Americans gathered to enjoy this annual feast. This year, the estimate is a higher 280 million.

Finder.com crunched the numbers to learn just how much Americans are expected to spend this coming Thanksgiving. While we shelled out $1.01 billion on turkeys last year, Americans are projected to spend only $991.16 million, but on a higher number of birds.

That’s because turkeys are cheaper when compared with last year’s prices: Data from the American Farm Bureau Federation indicates that a 16-pound turkey will cost a low $22.03 this Thanksgiving.

Tips for choosing a Thanksgiving turkey

Aim for at least 1 pound of uncooked turkey per person — which is enough to feed everyone and provide leftovers.
Either fresh or frozen is just fine, but check the sell-by date if buying it fresh. For every 5 pounds of frozen turkey, give yourself at least 24 hours for thawing in the fridge.
Prices can range from a low $0.59 per pound at supermarkets to $7 per pound or higher for heritage turkeys. Shop around for the best deal based on your tastes, farming philosophy and budget.

Thanksgiving turkey facts

77% of whole turkeys sold throughout the year are sold in November, totaling nearly 400 million pounds of turkey in that month alone, according to Nielsen.
President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.
The White House tradition of “pardoning” a turkey can be traced to President Lincoln in 1863.
A baby turkey is called a poult.
June is National Turkey Lovers month.
Minnesota produces the most turkeys among all the states.
Turkey is a healthy protein source. A three-ounce serving of cooked skinless turkey offers fewer calories from fat, zero saturated fat and 8% more protein than chicken, says the National Turkey Federation.

Not sure how to pay for Thanksgiving this year?

The holiday season can be a costly time of year for many Americans. Rachel Dix, finder.com’s consumer advocate, says there are plenty of ways to avoid going into debt in the name of gratitude:

“Whether you’re hosting, traveling or just bringing a dish for Thanksgiving, chances are this time of year brings with it expenses outside of your everyday budget. Set yourself a special seasonal budget that covers everything you need to buy. If it looks like you may go into debt to accommodate it, see where you can create some savings.

Ask family members to contribute to the dinner, check with your manager about working remotely to travel on less expensive days around the holiday and shop around for the best prices on purchases.

Comparing prices for items on your list is one of the biggest ways you can save this holiday season. Don’t let a looming deadline lead to a panic shop. Take time to compare some of the costlier options — such as the turkey or plane fares — before you buy.”

- To calculate the total spent on turkeys this Thanksgiving, we projected the average cost of a 16-pound turkey ($22.03) based on the average change in cost over the past two years (-1.58%) sourced from the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving dinner table.
- In November 2015, it was estimated that 45 million turkeys will be eaten on Thanksgiving Day according to the National Turkey Federation.
- We multiplied the projected cost of a 16 pound turkey ($22.03) by 45 million turkeys to find a total of about $991 million expected to be spent on Thanksgiving turkeys this year.

View previous years

Americans to spend over $1.01 billion on Thanksgiving turkeys in 2017
We’re going to be spending less on our favorite festive bird, despite more Thanksgiving turkeys forecast to be purchased this year.

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For many Americans, Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without a roast turkey on the table. In 2015, the National Turkey Federation reported that 85 percent of Americans will consume 45 million turkeys on Thanksgiving Day. Last year, this equated to an expected 276 million Americans gathering to enjoy this annual feast. This year, we’ve estimated even more of us consuming turkey for Thanksgiving – a whopping 277 million.
So how much will turkeys cost us this Thanksgiving? Last year, we estimated a total of $1.05 billion was spent on turkey dinners. This year, our estimates reveal that Americans are expected to spend $1.01 billion, even though the number of turkeys being consumed is likely to increase.
This is due to the projection of cheaper turkey prices in comparison with this time last year. This estimate is based on a projection that a 16 pound turkey will cost $22.44 this Thanksgiving (forecasted using 2015 and 2016 data from the American Farm Bureau Federation).
Do we spend more on our Thanksgiving or Christmas guilty pleasures?
According to Nielsen’s Advanced Fresh Perspective data, Thanksgiving is one of the highest-selling weeks for all food and beverage categories combined in the US, second only to the week of Christmas.
Last year, the amount spent on turkey ($1.054 billion) barely came out on top of the $1.050 billion spent on seasonal sweets. This year, however, turkey sales during Thanksgiving ($1.01 billion) are expected to be just short of the amount spent on candies at Christmas time.
To calculate the total spend on turkeys this Thanksgiving, finder.com projected the average cost of a 16 pound turkey ($22.44) based on the average change in cost over the past two years (-1.3%) sourced from the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual informal price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table, 2016 report.
In November 2015, it was estimated that 45 million turkeys will be eaten on Thanksgiving Day according to the National Turkey Federation.
e multiplied the projected cost of a 16 pound turkey ($22.44) by 45 million turkeys to find a total of $1,009,975,781 or just under $1.01 billion expected to be spent on Thanksgiving turkeys this year.
Americans to spend over $1.05 billion on Thanksgiving turkey this year
Credit card debt is expected to reach new highs as the silly season swings into gear!

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The humble turkey dinner on Thanksgiving is a staple for most households across America. In fact, 85 percent of Americans will consume 45 million turkeys on Thanksgiving day, according to a 2015 report by the National Turkey Federation. This trend is likely to continue, with an expected 276 million Americans enjoying the festive feast once again this year.
So how much will this tasty poultry feast cost? We crunched the numbers and found that Americans will be spending over $1.05 billion turkeys alone this Thanksgiving, on November 24. That’s before any of the trimmings and beverages they’ll also consume. finder.com estimates that a 16 pound turkey will cost $23.44 this Thanksgiving, projected based on the past five years of data from the American Farm Bureau Federation.
And being the month before the biggest holiday season of the year, November is one of the most expensive months for credit cardholders. Last year, Americans’ combined credit card debt reached $733 billion in the last quarter of 2015 (October-December) – an increase of $19 billion from the previous quarter. We’re expecting November to be an even bigger month of credit card spending this year.
How does Thanksgiving spending compare to Christmas?
The week of Thanksgiving is one of the highest-selling weeks for all food and beverage categories combined in the U.S., second only to the week of Christmas, according to Nielsen’s Advanced Fresh Perspective data.
Despite this, turkey sales just top the amount of money spent on candy at Christmas time, with $1.049 billion spent on the seasonal sweet stuff compared to $1.054 estimated to be spent on turkeys this Thanksgiving.
Our fave Thanksgiving turkey recipes:
Watch Wolfgang Puck’s turkey recipe and tips
“The best turkey in the world” according to Jamie Oliver
Martha Stewart compiles a neat gallery of her favorite Thanksgiving turkey recipes
Rachael Ray’s cider-soaked spatchcock turkey recipe
Essential turkey tips and tricks from kitchn
Juicy Thanksgiving turkey recipe
This “best turkey recipe ever”
Tips for choosing a Thanksgiving turkey
Aim for at least one pound of uncooked turkey per person. This should be enough to feed everyone as well as provide leftovers.
Fresh or frozen? Either is just fine, so base the decision on what works best with your schedule, but always check the sell-by date if you’re buying it fresh, and give yourself at least 24 hours refrigerator thawing time for every five pounds of frozen turkey.
Prices per pound can range from as low as $0.59 in some supermarkets to $7 and higher for heritage turkeys, so shop around for the best deal based on your tastes, farming philosophy and wallet. Here’s a look at the average cost of 16 pound turkey:
Thanksgiving Turkey facts:
77% of whole turkeys sold throughout the year are sold during the month of November and nearly 400 million pounds of turkey are sold in November, according to Nielsen.
President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1863.
The White House tradition of “pardoning” a turkey has been traced to President Lincoln in 1863.
A baby turkey is called a Poult.
June is National Turkey Lovers’ month.
Minnesota produces the most Turkey of all the states.
Turkey is healthier than any other protein source, according to the National Turkey Federation. A three-ounce serving of cooked skinless turkey has fewer calories from fat, zero saturated fat and 8% more protein than chicken.
Not sure how to pay for Thanksgiving this year?
There’s no doubt that thanksgiving is an expensive holiday for many families across America. And lack of funds can dampen the festive season. finder.com’s Money Expert, Michelle Hutchison, says it pays to shop around before hitting the mall or your favorite online store.
“Thanksgiving is a special day for enjoying time with friends and family but it is also one of the most expensive days of the year for many families, especially if you are the one hosting. Turkey prices vary from store to store, with some as low as $0.59 a pound if you spend a minimum on other produce, so it pays to shop around.f2017
“But what is really going to save you money in the long-term is setting a budget ahead of time. Creating a budget can help you avoid having to use your credit card and accruing interest if you don’t pay it off in time. If you do find yourself using your credit card more than usual and struggle to pay it off, it’s worth considering a balance transfer where you can transfer your debt to another card with low or no interest for a certain period of time.
Methodology:
To calculate the total spend on turkeys this Thanksgiving, finder.com projected the average cost of a 16 pound turkey ($23.44) based on the average growth of cost over the past five years (1.72%) sourced from the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual informal price survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table, 2015 report.
In November 2015, it was estimated that 45 million turkeys will be eaten on Thanksgiving Day according to the National Turkey Federation.
We multiplied the projected cost of a 16 pound turkey ($23.44) by 45 million turkeys to find a total of $1,054,582,037 or over $1.05 billion expected to be spent on Thanksgiving turkeys this year.
Credit card debt was sourced from the Federal Reserve Consumer Credit data, revolving credit, month-on-month growth from October-November 2015.