Wholesale turkey prices are soaring this year, as bird flu outbreaks and resulting supply shortages threaten to raise the price of Americans’ Thanksgiving meals.

According to a September outlook report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the wholesale price for frozen whole hen turkeys will average 131.5 cents per pound for 2025—157 and 155 cents, respectively, in the third and fourth quarters. This marks a 40 percent increase over last year’s annual price of 93.7 cents.

Why It Matters

The increase in wholesale costs for retailers could translate into higher prices on grocery store shelves, putting additional strain on already budget-conscious Americans this Thanksgiving. However, despite tight supplies, many retailers have rolled out meal bundles to draw in consumers that

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