Major Retailers Promise Cheaper Thanksgiving 2025 — Trump Says Prices Down 25%

Major Retailers Promise a Cheaper Thanksgiving — But There’s a Catch

New York (November 8, 2025) — America’s top retailers, including Walmart Inc., Target Corporation, and Aldi Stores LLC, have promised consumers a “more affordable Thanksgiving” this year. However, analysts warn that the discounts come with hidden trade-offs.

Walmart has reintroduced its Thanksgiving Savings Basket, offering a full meal package including turkey and sides at prices 25% lower than last year. The retail giant claims this is part of its effort to ease inflation pressure on families ahead of the holiday season. However, experts note that the cost cut largely comes from reducing product quantity and switching to private-label brands instead of national ones.

According to reports, Walmart’s 2025 Thanksgiving bundle for ten people costs under $40, compared to last year’s similar meal for eight people at $56. The difference? This year’s package includes only 22 items, down from 29 in 2024, with key ingredients like onions, celery, and broth missing.

Similarly, Aldi has launched a Thanksgiving meal kit for about $40, cheaper than last year’s $47 version. The kit features Jennie-O brand turkey, which has seen a price drop compared to last year due to early supplier contracts.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump announced that the cost of Thanksgiving dinner this year has dropped by 25%, calling it a “great win for American families.” However, analysts and fact-checkers, including Associated Press (AP), report that Trump’s comparison isn’t an exact “apples-to-apples” one — since the meal size, quality, and number of items have changed from last year’s survey.

Economic experts highlight that while general inflation remains persistent, the prices of Thanksgiving-specific items have fallen 2% to 3% this year. The main reason, they explain, is that retailers are replacing expensive name brands with cheaper private labels and adjusting package sizes to maintain affordability.

Key Insights:

U.S. consumers continue to struggle with inflation as food prices rose about 2.7% year-over-year in September 2025.

Retailers are relying more on private labels to offer budget-friendly holiday options.

Wholesale turkey prices have increased nearly 75%, but early bulk contracts allowed major retailers to keep retail prices low.

While the lower prices are good news on the surface, experts emphasize that this “affordable Thanksgiving” doesn’t reflect a true drop in inflation. Instead, it’s the result of product downsizing, brand substitution, and limited meal components.

In summary:

This year’s Thanksgiving will appear cheaper for American families, but the savings come at the cost of smaller meal bundles and reduced product variety. Consumers are advised to review product lists carefully before purchasing to ensure they’re getting the same value they enjoyed in previous years.