Millions of Americans are preparing for Christmas celebrations, and many are planning to spend time with loved ones and cook for Christmas.
According to research from Numerator, nearly three-quarters of U.S. consumers celebrating Christmas plan to gather with family and friends, and 33% plan to invite others.
It was also found that 61% plan to cook or bake at home during the holidays.
Christmas is fast approaching and many of us planning to cook will have our grocery lists and planners ready for the day.
Overall, Christmas meals and gingerbread, a popular holiday treat, will be more expensive in the U.S. this year as popular ingredients increase in price year-over-year, Expana reported.
The price of main meals, as measured by the Main Meal Index, which is part of the Christmas Dinner Index, has increased by 2.3% since last year, the commodity data provider said. Turkey, pork, beef, shrimp, lamb, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, and turnips were examined.
Expana's report said the price increase was “mainly due to higher prices for pork, lamb, shrimp and some vegetables.”
All meats except turkey, which Expana tracks as a main meal index, increased from last year. The price of a 16-pound frozen turkey was found to be down 13.7% from last November to an average of $1.07 per pound.
The price per pound of boneless lamb legs has increased 9.2% since 2023, according to Expana. Bone-in hams and quarter-inch trimmed bone-in pork butts also rose in price, with the former rising 8.3% and the latter 3.4%, according to the report.
Among the vegetables included in the main meal index, sweet potato prices increased the most, at 2.6%. Regular potatoes and turnips had small increases of 1.6% and 1.4%.
Expana pegged carrot prices at 58 cents per pound, representing a 19.2% year-over-year decline.
Meanwhile, the report observed that the gingerbread index, which consists of flour, sugar, butter, eggs, ginger and cassia, rose by 5.5%. This increase was largely related to the prices of eggs and sugar.
The company's “Benchmark Midwest Large Market” averaged $4.29 per dozen in November, a 97.5% jump from the same period last year, according to product data.
The average price of 12 large Grade A eggs in U.S. cities was $3.649 in November, up from $2.138 a year ago, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
According to Expana, “factors such as strong retail demand, preparations for the holiday season, avian influenza, and persistent inflation are contributing to higher costs.”
In addition to eggs and sugar, the prices of the spices ginger and cassia were also found to have increased.
But by Expana standards, butter and wheat prices have fallen. Prices fell by 2.2% and 2%, respectively.
The Main Meal Index and the Gingerbread Index make up Expana's Christmas Dinner Index. Taking into account changes in the cost of each ingredient, Christmas dishes and gingerbread together increased by 2.4% from 2023, the report said.
Separate data from the National Retail Federation shows that consumers plan to spend $261 on food, candy, decorations and other non-gift items over the winter holidays.
