A turkey used for cuddle therapy stands at The Gentle Barn, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025, in Christiana, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) As Americans are all set to celebrate Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 27, many are breathing a sigh of relief, thanks to the price of turkeys. Ahead of Thanksgiving, there were concerns that turkey prices could shoot up due to the bird flu outbreak.
Bird flu outbreak in US
Bird flu cases have risen across key turkey-producing states across the US since September, climbing from 60,000 infections to nearly 4 million by the end of October.
Minnesota, the country’s top turkey producer, experienced six confirmed turkey-related outbreaks in October, according to the USDA.
According to the US Department of Agriculture data, more than 1.65 million birds were culled in October alone.
Turkey price are higher, but…
While the shortage has resulted in a surge in the wholesale price of turkeys, according to NBC News, customers are not feeling the price shock.
The report said grocery stores are stomaching the increased costs in an effort to bring customers in, though turkey dinner price projections show meal prices have held steady, as well.
Data from the USDA shows that the wholesale price of frozen birds, which are most commonly used in Thanksgiving dinners, increased 80% from November 2024 to November 2025, from less than $1 per pound to more than $1.70.
According to ABC News, there was an 11 per cent increase in the price of a turkey in 2025. But turkey prices in 2025 are still lower than in 2022 and 2023.
David Ortega, a food economist and professor at Michigan State University, told NBC News that retailers are using turkeys to attract customers.
“It’s a pricing strategy, where they put the product and price it at or sometimes even below cost in an effort to draw customers into the store. They make up for that with other items in the basket consumers buy,” he said.
