Target Corp. announced on Nov. 11 a major price-cutting initiative involving 3,000 food, beverage, and essential items to help families maintain their household budgets this holiday season.
Beginning this month, the national retail giant will be lowering prices on popular kitchen pantry staples, as well as baby items and household essentials.
In addition, stores across the country will again offer the Target Thanksgiving Meal at its lowest price ever. The complete dinner will cost families less than $5 per person and will include quality ingredients and well-known brands.
“I’m proud of the way our team moved quickly to lower prices on thousands of items our guests need most,” Lisa Roath, Target’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer of food, essentials, and beauty, said in the announcement.
Last month, another retail goliath—Walmart—announced similar plans to help families save money during the holidays with its Thanksgiving Basket meal. The complete dinner, including turkey and fixings, sells for just $40.
According to an Oct. 31 report by the Urban Institute, prices for goods and services rose by 2.9 percent year over year in August.
“These small monthly price adjustments can cumulate into steep changes. Over the past 20 years, gasoline prices increased by 85 percent—meaning that a gallon of gas is almost twice as expensive today as it was in 2004,” the report states.
The report also noted that inflation for everyday expenses such as groceries, rent, utilities, health care, and household needs can have a significant effect on families—especially when wages are not keeping pace with inflation.
In the meantime, to further assist in the battle against food insecurity, Target has pledged a $500,000 donation to Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization.
Target noted that food banks throughout the nation typically experience increased demand during the holiday season.
According to Feeding America’s 2025 statistics, 47 million Americans today are facing food insecurity and experience daily challenges with hunger. Children, in particular, are feeling the effects; 13 million of them are growing up with insufficient nutritious food. Last year, more than 50 million people visited food pantries for assistance.
Feeding America indicates that most of those seeking help are working, but the salaries from many lower-income jobs are not enough to cover rent, utilities, health expenses, and grocery costs. All states and counties have their share of food insecurities, but people living in rural areas tend to be more affected; nine out of 10 counties with the highest food insecurity are located in rural regions.
Target noted that its new lower pricing options could vary by location, and the program does not include stores in Alaska and Hawaii.
Established in 1962, Target opened its first store in Roseville, Minnesota, and currently operates nearly 2,000 stores across the country, with close to 440,000 employees. Its parent company, Dayton Dry Goods Co., was founded in 1902 by George Dayton. The company was previously known as the Dayton-Hudson Corporation and was renamed as the Target Corporation in 2000.
