Christmas Dinner Costs Ease Slightly for 2024
The cost of Christmas dinner is set to be a little lighter on the wallet this year, thanks to falling turkey and Brussels sprout prices. According to research, a 10lb (4.55kg) frozen turkey is £1.21 cheaper than last year, while the price of a 500g bag of Brussels sprouts has dropped by 12%.
Despite these savings, the cost of root vegetables has risen due to wet weather earlier in the year delaying the planting season. When all items for a traditional Christmas meal are tallied, a family dinner will cost an estimated £31.66 this year, down slightly from £32.18 in 2023. The marginal decline reflects a general slowdown in food price inflation as the UK’s overall inflation rate eases.
Turkey Prices Stabilize After Turbulent Years
Data from retail tracking platform Assosia, which measured price changes across major supermarkets including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, and Lidl, shows that turkey prices have decreased by 6% this year.
Tom Copas, managing director of Copas Turkeys in Cookham, Berkshire, attributes the stabilization to an easing of the cost pressures seen in previous years. However, he notes a shift in consumer behavior, with slower sales and increased demand for smaller turkeys, possibly reflecting tighter budgets.
“It seems people are trying to keep their overall basket spend down,” Copas observed.
Brussels Sprouts Bounce Back
Brussels sprout prices have also dipped this year, with a 500g bag costing 12p less than in 2023. This improvement follows challenging seasons marked by extreme weather, including hot summers and sudden cold snaps, which impacted production.
“This year, we’ve seen a return to normality,” said John Inglis, senior commercial manager at ESG Drysdale, one of the UK’s largest sprout producers. The favorable conditions have allowed the crop to thrive, helping to lower costs for consumers.
Mixed Feelings About Sprouts
While sprout lovers may welcome the price drop, not everyone will be thrilled. A recent YouGov poll revealed that a quarter of Britons dislike the divisive vegetable, with older generations being more inclined to include them on their plates.
A Small Comfort for Christmas Budgets Though savings on turkey and sprouts offer some relief, the slight decline in overall costs underscores ongoing pressures on household budgets. Still, for many, these reductions provide a welcome reprieve as families prepare for the festive season.
