November 28, 2025
WEEKLY TOUCHPOINT
The Real Price of Gratitude: What Thanksgiving Dinner Costs in 2025
Every year, the American Farm Bureau Federation checks in on something we all care about — the cost of feeding the people we love. And this year, there’s finally a little good news baked into the menu.
What the Numbers Say
- A classic Thanksgiving dinner for ten is estimated at $55.18 for 2025.
- That’s not only lower than last year, but well below the inflation-fueled peak we saw in 2022.
- For the third year in a row, the cost of the holiday meal has declined — a welcome sign that price pressures are continuing to cool across household budgets.
- After the post-pandemic surge in food costs, this steady retreat feels like a collective exhale for families nationwide.
In a year where financial headlines often feel heavy, this small but meaningful trend reminds us that progress doesn’t always arrive with fanfare. Sometimes it shows up quietly… in the cost of cranberries and turkey. As you gather around your table — whatever it looks like, whatever’s on it — may this year’s lighter price tag be one more reason to slow down, give thanks, and celebrate the blessings that don’t fit on a receipt.
Is the Financial Media Too Negative?
It’s the Strongest Buyer’s Market in Records Dating Back Over a Decade
Cybersecurity + Identity Protection
This week you will receive the formal communication from our RIA back office, NewEdge Advisors. Before that, we wanted to personally share an early update about an important enhancement coming your way. NewEdge is rolling out a strengthened Cybersecurity Program for all clients who hold accounts at Fidelity, and we want you to be informed before the official notice arrives.
Key Details You Should Know
- Who It Applies To: All clients with accounts custodied at Fidelity.
- Cost: $80 per year, per account, with a cap of $480 per family household per year, regardless of the number of accounts.
- Opt-Out Option: You will have the ability to Opt Out of the program once NewEdge’s communication goes live.
- Purpose: Provides enhanced monitoring, detection, and security tools to help safeguard your financial information.
- Action Needed Now: None. This message is simply to ensure you are informed ahead of the official announcement.
We support this initiative wholeheartedly. Cybersecurity is now a core part of financial wellness, and we’re pleased to see continued investment in protecting your accounts at the custodial level. That said, participation is completely optional, and you will have full control once the official materials are sent next week.
As soon as NewEdge releases the full details, please feel free to reach out. We’re here to help you understand the program, the opt-out process, and how this fits into your broader financial plan.
SOURCE: NewEdge Advisors
Equities
- Investors caught a tailwind as hopes for a December rate cut grew after softer economic data rolled in.
- Small-caps stole the spotlight, with the Russell 2000 jumping 5.55%—comfortably ahead of the S&P 500’s 3.74% climb.
- Growth stocks regained their swagger, though value still won the month. Meanwhile, communication services led, fueled by big moves in Alphabet and Meta.
- Energy lagged, pressured by sliding oil prices.
- Overseas, developed and emerging markets both rallied as AI overspending fears cooled and optimism rose around potential Russia–Ukraine peace discussions.
Bonds
- Fixed income enjoyed a lift as Treasury yields eased and credit spreads tightened across the board.
- The 2-year finished at 3.47%, and the 10-year settled at 4.02%, keeping the curve’s 0.55% slope unchanged.
- Longer-duration bonds outperformed, catching the benefit of falling rates.
- Corporate bonds edged out high-yield and government securities.
- Yields softened across categories: investment-grade down to 4.77%, high-yield sliding to 7.09%.
Macroeconomic Data
- A light data week post-Thanksgiving still pointed to cooling inflation, thanks to a modest 0.3% rise in PPI led by energy and food.
- Jobless claims came in mixed: initial claims fell to 216K, but elevated continuing claims suggested a labor market losing a bit of steam.
- Retail sales grew 0.2% in September—below expectations and notably softer than August’s 0.6% bump.
- Consumer confidence slipped, with the Conference Board index dropping to 88.7 as households voiced concerns over inflation, tariffs, politics, and the lingering shutdown.
- Dovish Fed comments helped amp up expectations that a year-end rate cut remains very much alive.
(as of Monday’s Market Opening)
| Total Return (1D) | Total Return (1W) | Total Return (MTD) | Total Return (QTD) | Total Return (YTD) | |
| S&P 500 | -0.16% | 1.94% | -0.16% | 2.19% | 16.21% |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average | -0.43% | 2.30% | -0.43% | 2.41% | 11.69% |
| NASDAQ | -0.24% | 1.91% | -0.24% | 2.86% | 20.70% |
| NASDAQ 100 | -0.16% | 2.16% | -0.16% | 2.96% | 20.93% |
| Russell 1000 | -0.21% | 3.56% | -0.01% | 2.24% | 16.91% |
| Russell 2000 | -0.79% | 4.74% | 0.22% | 1.99% | 12.56% |
| Russell 3000 | -0.29% | 3.53% | -0.02% | 2.13% | 16.68% |
| ACWI | -0.32% | 3.05% | -0.28% | 2.01% | 20.94% |
Global Client Survey
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Take Our Survey Now (click here)
Disclosures
- Wealth Mechanics™ is a registered trademark of Cestia Wealth Management. Unauthorized use of the trademark, including but not limited to commercial use, reproduction, or imitation without explicit written permission from Cestia Wealth Management, is strictly prohibited.
- Market commentary provided by NewEdge Advisors
- Charts concerning market data are provided by Exhibit A.
- Guides and other downloadable firm material respective to financial planning processes and data are provided and powered by fpPathfinder.
- Advisory services offered through NewEdge Advisors, LLC, a registered investment adviser. Securities offered through NewEdge Securities, LLC. Member FINRA/SIPC. NewEdge Advisors, LLC and NewEdge Securities, LLC are wholly owned subsidiaries of NewEdge Capital Group, LLC.
- Cestia Wealth Management is not a legal tax professional. We offer tax gap analysis for clients who desire to have a comprehensive financial plan, which requires in-depth tax strategy and planning as a distinct part of the overall customized solution. Please consult your tax professional on all matters addressed in this report.
- Information about annuities are not to be considered a recommendation. The information provided should not considered a recommendation to purchase or sell any particular security.
- Investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Please note that individual situations can vary. Therefore, the information presented here should only be relied upon when coordinated with individual professional advice.
