Copyright syracuse.com
President Donald Trump in recent days has been pointing to Walmart’s promotional Thanksgiving meal bundle as evidence of lower grocery prices. But he’s “ignoring” a key detail: the fact that this year’s bundle contains fewer items, according to NBC News. Walmart’s Thanksgiving bundle is indeed less expensive in 2025 than it was a year ago. The company said in October it would lower the price of the bundle, which provides fixings for a Thanksgiving dinner, by 25% overall, according to ABC News. The package costs less than $40, according to NBC. But the bundle this year includes 15 items, down from 21 a year ago. If you’re counting each individual item separately (like each can of green beans), it’s 22 items this year compared to 29 items last year, according to CNN. This year’s bundle also includes more items from Walmart’s store brand, Great Value. The missing items this year include onions, celery, sweet potatoes, chicken broth, poultry seasoning, muffin mix, marshmallows, whipped topping and pecan pie, according to NBC. “Grocery prices are way down, and Walmart just announced that the cost of their standard Thanksgiving meal — this is the greatest, their greatest,” Trump said in a speech to the American Business Forum on Wednesday, according to NBC. “It is 25% lower than one year ago. That’s a big deal.” Trump has been talking about affordability this week after Republican losses in some key races on Election Day, CNN noted. He mentioned Thanksgiving prices in a post on Truth Social as well, according to ABC News. “2025 Thanksgiving dinner under Trump is 25% lower than 2024 Thanksgiving dinner under Biden, according to Walmart,” Trump wrote. “My cost are lower than the Democrats on everything, especially oil and gas! So the Democrats ‘affordability’ issue is DEAD! STOP LYING!!!” In reality, grocery prices are up overall this year. Food prices rose 3.1% in September when compared with a year earlier, according to ABC. The price of beef in particular has been setting records in 2025. Here’s what government data says about price changes for some Thanksgiving staples over the past year, according to ABC. Uncooked Poultry +0.6% Canned fruits and vegetables +5% Fresh biscuits, rolls, muffins +3.9% Potatoes +3.7% Eggs -1.3% Frozen and refrigerated bakery products, pies, tarts, turnovers +0.4% Bread +1.8% Butter -1.8%
