Friday 8th December 2023

Our latest research has revealed what not to ask Santa for this Christmas, as some popular gift ideas have climbed in price by as much as 15% compared to last Christmas, while our research also shows that the cost of a Christmas dinner has climbed by 9% since last year. 

We've analysed data from the Office for National Statistics, looking at the current cost of 101 popular Christmas gifts and how their cost has changed since last Christmas, to reveal which items are best left off the Christmas wish list for this year. We also looked at the cost of the traditional Christmas dinner and which items we could ditch from our plate in order to cut back on costs this Christmas. 

 

What not to leave under the tree this Christmas

The research shows that clothing items are best avoided this Christmas, accounting for the top 10 largest increases in price. 

Everything from Girl’s trousers, kid’s jumpers and trainers, women’s cardigans, girl’s leggings, men’s jackets, boy’s t-shirts, kid’s pyjamas and baby grows have seen increases of between 10% and 22% in price.

Large chocolate bars have also seen a price hike of 10% since last Christmas, as have golf balls. Best selling books are up by 9%, while theatre tickets, mascara and silver earrings have climbed by 8%. 

Other popular gifts in the list include power drills (+7%), deodorants (+7%), adult craft hobby kits (+6%), houseplants (+6%), fashion necklaces (+5%), men’s ties (+5%), cream liqueurs such as Baileys (+5%), childrens sit and ride toys (+4%), men’s watches (+4%), socks (+4%) and jigsaws (+4%).

Those all important AA batteries will also cost you 8% more when compared to last Christmas, although another Christmas essential, wrapping paper, has only seen a 1% price hike.

 

Cost of a Christmas dinner up 9%

But it’s not just the gifts under our tree that will cost us more this year, the traditional Christmas dinner has also climbed in price. 

We analysed the cost of the traditional Christmas dinner, for an average of four people, consisting of turkey, roast spuds, carrots, brussel sprouts, parsnips, stuffing and Christmas pudding. 

The research shows that in total, a Christmas dinner will set us back £25.61 this year. That’s an increase of 9% or £2.02 when compared to last Christmas. 

Both the cost of parsnips and a turkey have climbed by 10% annually, although this equates to an increase of just six pence for parsnips, while a turkey will cost us £1.45 more this year. 

Alternatively, a beef roasting joint has increased by 8% since last Christmas and while it still costs an average of £12.68, it makes it a potential attractive alternative for those who may want to ditch the turkey from the table while looking to cut their Christmas costs. 

Potatoes (+9%), carrots (+8%), Christmas pud (+7%), stuffing (+6%) and sprouts (+2%) are also more expensive this Christmas compared to last - adding an extra £0.52p to the cost of our Christmas dinner. 

What’s more, beer (+10.9%) champagne (+9.5%) and wine (+8%) have also seen a substantial increase in cost when compared to last Christmas - with a crate of beer now costing £1.27 more, a bottle of wine costing £0.58p more and a bottle of champagne seeing an increase of £2.92.