Turkeys aren't known for flying but their prices are soaring ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

A September outlook report from the United States Agriculture Department estimates that wholesale prices for frozen turkeys will be $1.32 per pound this year, a 40% increase from 2024's average of $0.94 per pound.

The wholesale price is what retailers pay to buy items in bulk. Retailers then decide how much they want to charge consumers.

The reason the birds — traditionally the centerpiece at the Thanksgiving table — are getting more expensive comes down to supply. The number of available turkeys has shrunk in recent years amid slightly weakened demand and avian flu outbreaks , according to USDA data .

More than 3 million turkeys have been impacted by bird flu outbreaks this year,

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