Thanksgiving dinner is noticeably more expensive this year, according to a pointed message from Rep. Shontel Brown (D-OH), who says President Trump’s promised “Day 1” cost-cutting has failed to materialize.
In a video posted to Instagram, Brown highlights sharp price increases on staple items and blames the Trump administration’s tariff policies for pushing grocery bills higher.
Brown notes that sweet onions—once around $1—now range between $1.64 and $1.75, a 56% spike. Smoked ham is up 49%, while turkey prices have climbed 36% year-over-year, she says.
“You are not dreaming,” Brown tells viewers. “Thanksgiving is more expensive this year thanks to Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress.”
Independent economic reporting backs up parts of that assessment, though with important nuances. PBS NewsHour recently had a detailed analysis with Michigan State University food economist David Ortega. The economist says multiple forces are driving holiday food inflation, including tariffs, persistent supply chain pressures, and ongoing disease outbreaks in poultry.
Bird Flu and Respiratory Viruses Hit Turkey Supply
Wholesale turkey prices are up about 40% compared to last year, PBS reports. Farmers are battling simultaneous outbreaks of avian flu and a second respiratory virus, AMPV, which has further constrained egg production and slowed flock rebuilding. More than 2 million turkeys have been culled this year alone to prevent infected birds from entering the food supply.
Despite that, retailers have kept consumer turkey prices relatively steady—sometimes under $1 per pound—using frozen birds as a loss leader to draw shoppers. Major chains, including Walmart, are offering stripped-down Thanksgiving meal bundles that cost less overall but include fewer items.
Tariffs Drive Up Prices on Vegetables, Coffee and Canned Goods
Outside the turkey aisle, shoppers face a mixed landscape. Grocery prices overall are about 2.7% higher than last year, after a sharp 25% climb over the past five years. Tariffs on steel and aluminum have made canned vegetables more expensive because tin-steel inputs now cost more.
Other notable increases:
- Coffee: up over 18% year-over-year.
- Canned vegetables: up 5%.
- Fresh vegetables: up 3%.
- Beef: at record highs.
- Chocolate desserts: more expensive due to global cocoa shortages.
Imported wines are also pricier because of tariffs, though domestic wine prices have dipped slightly amid softening demand.
A Growing Political Flashpoint
While holiday costs rise every year for various reasons, this year’s increases are quickly becoming a political flashpoint. Democrats argue tariffs imposed under Trump have directly increased production and shipping costs, pushing prices higher for families on tight budgets. Republicans counter that inflationary pressure is broader and tied to global disruptions.
Either way, the Thanksgiving table has become another arena in the national inflation debate—a place where economic theory meets the reality of stressed household budgets.
