Thanksgiving choices are shaped by budgets, convenience, and how people get to the celebration. In 2023, menu shoppers leaned into beverages, produce, and desserts, while household conditions were influenced by the October unemployment rate and wage trends. Search interest and holiday logistics also spike in the days before Thanksgiving, and safety guidance matters—turkey should reach 165°F, and perishable foods shouldn’t sit out for more than 2 hours.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the average U.S. household food-at-home spending was about $70.2 per week (all foods)
- FMI (Food Marketing Institute) data showed 2023 Thanksgiving menu shoppers were more likely to buy beverages, produce, and desserts than in prior years (survey-based)
- BLS reported that U.S. unemployment rate was 3.8% in October 2023, influencing holiday discretionary spending conditions
- TSA reported 9.4 million travelers screened over the Thanksgiving 2023 peak-day period on Nov 23, 2023
- 52% of consumers said they planned to travel by car for Thanksgiving 2023 (survey-based)
- Google Trends shows Thanksgiving search interest peaks in the days immediately before Thanksgiving (normalized index peak reported by analysis)
- USDA FSIS states poultry must be cooked to 165°F to ensure safety
- FDA’s Food Code guidance uses the 2-hour rule for perishable foods left out of refrigeration
- CDC reports that norovirus causes about 5.5 million illnesses in the U.S. each year (commonly spread in food/close-contact outbreaks)
- The U.S. retail turkey category generated $6.5 billion in sales in 2022 (estimated retail sales), indicating a multi-billion-dollar seasonal business.
- The U.S. had 128.9 million households in 2023 (household estimate), providing the number of potential Thanksgiving food-purchasing units.
- In 2023, the U.S. cranberry market size was $660 million (market estimate), supporting the broader cranberry sauce supply chain.
- In 2023, U.S. per capita pie consumption was 5.1 servings/year (industry estimate), relevant to Thanksgiving pie demand for seasonal desserts.
- In 2023, 28% of Americans reported buying a pumpkin pie rather than baking one at home (survey-based), measuring substitution toward ready-made desserts.
- In 2023, 61% of consumers said they plan to serve cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving (survey-based), quantifying demand for a signature side.
Thanksgiving spending stays strong as shoppers stock up on favorites, while food safety tips help protect families.
Related reading
01 · Category
Industry Trends8 stats
01
In 2023, the average U.S. household food-at-home spending was about $70.2per week (all foods)https://www.bls.gov/cex/
02
FMI (Food Marketing Institute) data showed 2023 Thanksgiving menu shoppers were more likely to buy beverages, produce, and desserts than in prior years (survey-based)https://www.fmi.org/docs/default-source/research/seasonal-holidays/fmi-thanksgiving-shopper-study-2023.pdf
03
BLS reported that U.S. unemployment rate was 3.8% in October 2023, influencing holiday discretionary spending conditionshttps://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/empsit_11032023.htm
04
BLS reported that real average hourly earnings were down 0.1% year-over-year in October 2024https://www.bls.gov/news.release/realer.htm
05
The U.S. frozen entrée market is forecast to reach $9.2 billion by 2030 (forecast), relevant because many households use prepared foods to manage holiday cooking time.https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/frozen-entr%C3%A9e-market
06
The American Time Use Survey recorded that eating and drinking accounted for 2.3 hours per day (average), which supports the baseline context for expanded Thanksgiving meal time demands.https://www.bls.gov/tus/
07
Thanksgiving in the U.S. is observed on the fourth Thursday of November under federal law, fixing the annual timing of seasonal food demand.https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/5/6103
08
In 2023, the U.S. Thanksgiving average weather temperature in major metros is typically in the 40–55°F range (climatology synthesis used by retail planning), impacting delivery schedules and shopping behavior for perishable items.https://www.noaa.gov/climate
Interpretation
Industry Trends Interpretation
Industry trends around Thanksgiving show consumers are leaning into at-home convenience and treats, with U.S. household food-at-home spending averaging $70.2 per week in 2023 while eating and drinking take up 2.3 hours per day, and the frozen entrée market is projected to reach $9.2 billion by 2030.
02 · Category
Safety & Risk5 stats
01
USDA FSIS states poultry must be cooked to 165°F to ensure safetyhttps://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics
02
FDA’s Food Code guidance uses the 2-hour rule for perishable foods left out of refrigerationhttps://www.fda.gov/food/retail-food-protection/food-code
03
CDC reports that norovirus causes about 5.5 million illnesses in the U.S. each year (commonly spread in food/close-contact outbreaks)https://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/about/index.html
04
CDC estimates campylobacter causes about 1.5 million illnesses annually in the U.S.https://www.cdc.gov/campylobacter/about/index.html
05
CDC reports that foodborne illness affects 1 in 6 people in the U.S. each yearhttps://www.cdc.gov/foodborneburden/index.html
Interpretation
Safety & Risk Interpretation
For Thanksgiving safety, the numbers are a reminder that foodborne risk is real and widespread, since illness affects 1 in 6 people each year and pathogens like norovirus (5.5 million illnesses) and campylobacter (1.5 million) are behind many cases, which is why strict steps such as cooking poultry to 165°F and following the 2-hour refrigeration rule matter.
03 · Category
Travel & Logistics4 stats
01
TSA reported 9.4 million travelers screened over the Thanksgiving 2023 peak-day period on Nov 23, 2023https://www.tsa.gov/newsroom/press-release/2023-11-29/thanksgiving-2023-travel-statistics
02
52% of consumers said they planned to travel by car for Thanksgiving 2023 (survey-based)https://www.aaa.com/AAA/common/AAR/files/2023-thanksgiving-travel-forecast.pdf
03
Google Trends shows Thanksgiving search interest peaks in the days immediately before Thanksgiving (normalized index peak reported by analysis)https://trends.google.com/trends/explore?date=2023-10-01%202023-12-01&geo=US&q=thanksgiving
04
USPS processed about 1.8 billion packages in December 2023 (context for holiday logistics affecting Thanksgiving lead-up)https://about.usps.com/newsroom/press-releases/2024/usps-processed-1-8-billion-packages-in-december-2023.htm
Interpretation
Travel & Logistics Interpretation
With TSA screening 9.4 million travelers on Thanksgiving 2023’s peak day and 52% of consumers planning to drive, travel demand and the logistics prep are clearly car-centric and surge right around the holiday, even as USPS handled about 1.8 billion packages in December to support the wider season.
04 · Category
Market Size3 stats
01
The U.S. retail turkey category generated $6.5 billion in sales in 2022 (estimated retail sales), indicating a multi-billion-dollar seasonal business.https://www.statista.com/statistics/193146/us-turkey-sales/
02
The U.S. had 128.9 million households in 2023 (household estimate), providing the number of potential Thanksgiving food-purchasing units.https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/PST045223
03
In 2023, the U.S. cranberry market size was $660 million (market estimate), supporting the broader cranberry sauce supply chain.https://www.imarcgroup.com/cranberry-market
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
The Market Size data shows Thanksgiving is backed by a substantial U.S. retail food economy, including $6.5 billion in 2022 turkey sales, 128.9 million households in 2023, and a $660 million cranberry market that underpins key sauce ingredients.
05 · Category
Food Safety3 stats
01
A 2018 peer-reviewed study found that cooking turkey at too-low temperatures is a leading factor in household foodborne illness risk during holiday events (risk factor analysis), supporting food-safety attention around Thanksgiving.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/jmbe.2018.0036
02
A 2019 peer-reviewed study reported that Salmonella survives in raw poultry and can contaminate kitchen surfaces, contributing to secondary transmission risks in household settings (microbial survival/transfer analysis).https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/AEM.02224-18
03
A 2020 review in a peer-reviewed journal concluded that refrigerator temperature control and timely cooling materially reduce risk of pathogen growth in leftovers (control and risk reduction review).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7515071/
Interpretation
Food Safety Interpretation
Across peer reviewed research from 2018 to 2020, household food safety risk around Thanksgiving is consistently tied to preventing improper cooking and rapid cooling, with evidence showing that too low turkey temperatures and Salmonella contamination of kitchen surfaces are major drivers while refrigerator temperature control and timely cooling materially reduce pathogen risk.
06 · Category
Overview3 stats
01
In 2023, 28% of Americans reported buying a pumpkin pie rather than baking one at home (survey-based), measuring substitution toward ready-made desserts.https://www.statista.com/statistics/1125449/which-pumpkin-pies-do-americans-buy/
02
In 2023, 61% of consumers said they plan to serve cranberry sauce at Thanksgiving (survey-based), quantifying demand for a signature side.https://www.statista.com/statistics/1381643/cranberry-sauce-thanksgiving-consumers/
03
In 2023, U.S. per capita pie consumption was 5.1 servings/year (industry estimate), relevant to Thanksgiving pie demand for seasonal desserts.https://www.freemarketreport.com/pie-consumption-us/
Interpretation
Industry Overview Interpretation
The Industry Overview signals strong demand for convenient and classic Thanksgiving foods, with 28% of Americans choosing store-bought pumpkin pie in 2023 and 61% planning to serve cranberry sauce, supported by an estimated 5.1 servings of pie per person each year in the U.S.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Ryan Townsend. (2026, February 13). Thanksgiving Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/thanksgiving-statistics
MLA
Ryan Townsend. "Thanksgiving Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/thanksgiving-statistics.
Chicago
Ryan Townsend. 2026. "Thanksgiving Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/thanksgiving-statistics.
Sources & references
26 datasets cited across this report
+8 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)