Christmas is a notoriously expensive time of the year, with weeks of nights out, dinners, presents and taxis.
The cost of living in Ireland is constantly on the rise, and according to new research carried out by Kantar so is the cost of the big day.
Christmas dinner plays a vital role in Irish traditions, and so homeowners are likely to feel the effects of rising costs this year when it comes to shopping for the annual feast.
According to statistics, the average price of Christmas dinner for four has reached €30.97, which marks a 4.3% increase compared to last year.
Products representing a Christmas meal are:
- Small fresh whole turkey
- 1 kg ham
- 400g stuffing
- Packet of mince pies
- 500g sprouts
- 250g gravy granules
- 2.5 kg of potatoes
- 500g carrots
- 500g parsnips
- 1 jar of cranberry sauce
- 1 bottle sparkling wine
The increase has been seen over the past 12 weeks as a result of supply chain issues in line with Brexit and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking about the recent findings, Emer Healy, retail analyst at Kantar, said: “Grocery price inflation stands at 1.2% over the latest 12 weeks as prices have been put under pressure by a series of supply chain issues complicated by Brexit and the pandemic.
“Shoppers will inevitably feel the impact on their Christmas budgets this year and we’re already seeing prices for some festive staples nudge up.
“The price of a Christmas meal for four now stands at €30.97, which is 4.3% higher than it was last year.”
It seems the rising prices haven’t discouraged the public from treating themselves after a year of Covid restrictions and lockdowns.
“Despite higher prices, shoppers are still eager to make up for lost time this Christmas and it’s clear that people are in the mood for a well-deserved treat after a long year of lockdowns,” Emer said.
“Premium own-label sales are rising, up by 2.4% over the latest 12 weeks. We saw premium own-label sales break records last December when sales topped €140,000 and the figure may be even larger this year.”
