Thanksgiving Logistics

A record 80 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more over Thanksgiving weekend, the majority (a record 71.7 million) by car. Millions more are expected to fly, including a record-breaking 3 million on Sunday alone.

Over 80% of Americans will eat turkey (watch overview), requiring an estimated 46 million birds to supply the feast. A recent survey suggests mashed potatoes, bread rolls, and pie will be standard fare; macaroni and cheese consumption is highly regionalized (see map). A holiday meal for 10 will cost $58 on average, down 5% from last year and the lowest inflation-adjusted cost in the 39 years of the farmers' survey (see charts).

Meteorologists are predicting a relatively wet, chilly Thanksgiving for half the country, with snow in the Midwest and rain on the East Coast. A cold front will impact close to 200 million Americans by Saturday. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day