The price of a Christmas roast has risen by less than the headline inflation rate, figures showed today, boosted by a drop in the price of everyone's favourite, brussels sprouts.
Market research firm Kantar said the cost of a traditional Christmas dinner for four this year is up by 1.3% versus a year ago and now stands at £31.71, helped by falls in the price of brussels sprouts and Christmas puddings.
This tracks well below the headline grocery price inflation rate, which fell to 9.1% for the four weeks to 26 November 2023.
Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at Kantar predicted a record Christmas spend with sales expected to surpass £13 billion for the first time ever this December.
He explained that the festive period is always a bumper one for the grocers with consumers buying on average 10% more items than in a typical month.
Friday 22 December is set to be the busiest day for festive grocery shopping, while the retailers will sell nearly 41 million brussels sprouts per day in the week leading up to Christmas.
McKevitt said a seasonal jump in premium stuffing, sausage meat and Christmas puddings over the coming weeks are on the cards.
He noted brussels sprouts are now 4.3% cheaper than 12 months ago “so there’s no excuse for people not to enjoy them!”