Marketplace All-in-One Talkin' turkey (inflation)
Nov 25, 2025
Kimberly Adams is a Marketplace reporter who investigates holiday food prices, while Samantha Fields delves into rising Affordable Care Act premiums. They explore conflicting narratives around Thanksgiving food costs, examining how menu choices impact budgets. Fields highlights family stories about dramatic premium increases and discusses the ripple effects of expiring subsidies. As insurers brace for a sicker risk pool, the duo sheds light on how families might adjust their holiday plans and healthcare choices in response to rising costs.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Conflicting Thanksgiving Price Narratives
- Holiday food price reports vary because different groups use different baskets and methods to measure costs.
- Shoppers see prices directly, while analysts debate whether turkey deals offset higher costs for sides.
Big Jumps In Some Sides
- Specific items like vegetables and sweet potatoes have jumped far more than average food inflation.
- Consumers respond by substituting frozen veggies, skipping dessert, or buying generics to save money.
Turkeys As Loss Leaders
- Retailers may loss-lead on turkey prices to draw shoppers into stores or online ads.
- Those shoppers then buy other high-margin items like pie filling and stuffing.