City Controller’s latest monthly Municipal Money Matters compares cost of traditional meal over the last 50 years
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 13, 2024
PHILADELPHIA – With prices going up for food, gas, utilities and many other essential items, City Controller Christy Brady analyzed the cost for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner and found Philadelphians can expect to pay about $20 more this year compared to the price tag a decade ago.
By averaging the costs of items and ingredients from grocery stores across the City of Philadelphia, the traditional meal to feed 10 people is $66.60 this year, marking a 45% increase over 2014. The City Controller’s Municipal Money Matters report for November compared the costs over the last 10 and 50 years.
Inflation spikes and the overall higher cost of living have pushed prices significantly higher. When it comes to paying for a traditional Thanksgiving meal in Philadelphia, the total cost has outpaced inflation by about 50 percentage points since 1974.
A breakdown of costs includes:
| Item | 1974 | 2014 | 2024 | 50 Yr. $ Diff | 50 Yr. % Diff |
| Turkey, 16 lbs. | $5.67 | $19.44 | $27.04 | $21.37 | 377% |
| Whole Milk | $1.24 | $3.70 | $4.92 | $3.68 | 297% |
| Pumpkin Pie Mix, 30 oz. | $0.79 | $2.65 | $3.89 | $3.10 | 393% |
| Whipping Cream | $1.17 | $2.44 | $3.66 | $2.49 | 213% |
| Cubed Stuffing, 12 oz. | $0.43 | $2.66 | $3.50 | $3.07 | 714% |
| Green Peas, 1 lb. | $1.51 | $0.92 | $2.82 | $1.31 | 87% |
| Dinner Rolls, 12 | $0.92 | $2.50 | $4.09 | $3.17 | 345% |
| Sweet Potatoes, 3 lbs. | $1.70 | $2.63 | $2.96 | $1.26 | 74% |
| Fresh Cranberries, 12 oz. | $0.38 | $2.75 | $2.32 | $1.94 | 511% |
| Pie Shells, 2 | $1.90 | $2.43 | $5.42 | $3.52 | 185% |
| Misc. Ingredients/Relish Tray | $1.34 | $4.30 | $5.98 | $4.64 | 346% |
| Total | $17.05 | $46.42 | $66.60 | $49.55 | 291% |
The cost for a 16-pound turkey jumped by almost 40% over the last decade and 377% over the last five decades. The cost to make a pumpkin pie, which includes the pie mix and shells, increased by 78% and 240% over the same two time periods analyzed.
Sweet potatoes and green peas realized the lowest price increases, marking the only Thanksgiving items that did not experience at least a doubling in price over the last 50 years.
Visit https://controller.phila.gov/ to view the City Controller’s latest report.
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