Festive joy as cost of Christmas dinner rises well below food inflation

THE price of Christmas dinner is up but well below the food inflation rate — and it’s thanks to Brussels sprouts.

Our traditional turkey sit-down with pudding and a glass of fizz will cost an average of £31.71 for a family of four — an increase of 1.3 per cent on last year.

That is a relative Yuletide result as grocery inflation is still sitting at around nine per cent.

Some festive faves have rocketed in price, especially cranberry sauce which is 26.5 per cent dearer than last year.

However sprouts — loved by many, despised by others — are 4.3 per cent cheaper, largely due to a wet summer resulting in a bumper crop.

Everything else on our dinner plate is up.

But Christmas puddings are down 2.4 per cent this year as supermarkets embark on a festive price war to lure in shoppers.

Despite the cost-of-living crisis, the grocery giants are expected to rake in a record £13billion of sales.

Analysts say this is largely because chocolate tubs, booze and other seasonal food gifts have become more expensive.

However there are signs consumers are hunting for even more bargains and deals in the run-up to Christmas in a bid to rein in spending.

Fraser McKevitt, head of retail and consumer insight at researchers Kantar, said: “We’re well above 2022 levels, with customers making an additional £180million in savings this November versus 12 months ago.”