Having a Christmas gathering this year? The feast will cost more this year

As millions of Americans prepare for the Christmas festivities, many plan to spend time with loved ones and cook for the holiday.

Nearly three-quarters of American consumers who celebrate Christmas intend to get together with family and friends, and 33% will spend according to The numerator’s survey also found that 61% intend to cook or bake at home for the holiday.

Back Christmas is fast approachingMany of those who plan to cook are likely preparing their grocery lists and pockets for the occasion. In general, Christmas food and gingerbread, a popular holiday treat, will cost more in the U.S. this year thanks to popular ingredients that have risen in price each year. are increasing. reports Expana.

Happy multi-generational family socializing at the dinner table while enjoying Christmas dinner. (Skynesher via Getty Images/Getty Images)

The commodity data provider said staple food prices, as measured by the Main Food Index as part of the Christmas Dinner Index, jumped 2.3% compared to last year. It looked at turkey, pork, beef, prawns, lamb, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots and turnips.

HOW YOU CAN GET A GIFT THIS CHRISTMAS TO START A LOVED ONE ON THEIR INVESTMENT JOURNEY

That price increase was “largely driven by higher prices for pork, lamb, shrimp and some vegetables,” Expana said in the report.

All meat products that Expana tracked in the staple food index, except turkey, increased in value over last year 16-pound frozen turkey showed a 13.7% drop from last November, averaging $1.07 per pound, it found.

According to Expana, prices for boneless legs of lamb rose 9.2% per pound from 2023. Bone-in hams and ¼-inch bone-in pork loins also rose, with the former increasing by 8.3%, according to the report. %, and the second – by 3.4%.

The prices of sweet potatoes increased the most among vegetables in the basic food index. by 2.6%. Potatoes and turnips showed normal growth of 1.6% and 1.4%.

Sweet potato pile, Maryland. (Edwin Remsberg / VWPics/Universal Images Group via Getty Images) / Getty Images)

Expana pegged carrots at 58 cents a pound, down 19.2% year over year.

SENDING HOLIDAY GIFTS HERE ARE TIMES TO GIVE THEM ON TIME

Meanwhile, the report saw a 5.5% increase in its Gingerbread Index, which is made up of wheat flour, sugar, butter, eggs, ginger and cassia.The jump was mainly due to egg and sugar costs.

Teenage girls are baking Christmas cookies in the oven (GMVozd via Getty Images/Getty Images)

Commodities data said its “benchmark Midwest Large quote” averaged $4.29 a dozen in November, up 97.5 percent from the same time last year.

Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed that the average price of a dozen large Class A eggs in U.S. cities was $3,649 as of November, compared with $2,138 a year ago.

Factors including “strong retail demand, holiday preparationsand persistent inflation as well as bird flu have contributed to their higher prices, according to Expana.

In the hands of a woman packing eggs in a supermarket (iStock / iStock)

In addition to eggs and sugar, the prices of ginger and cassia spices have increased, it was found out.

Butter and wheat, however, have fallen in price to the extent of Expana. Their prices decreased by 2.2% and 2%, respectively.

TOP TOYS. GIFTS TO PRESENT KIDS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

The main meal and gingerbread indices make up Expana’s Christmas dinner index.Taking into account changes in the cost of all ingredients, Christmas meals and gingerbread have risen by a combined 2.4% since 2023, the report said.

Full frame Christmas background.Features blurred corner of manta.Bright colors of Christmas decorated house. (iStock / iStock)

Consumers will spend $261 on food, candy, jewelry and other non-gift items for the winter holidays, according to separate data from the National Retail Federation.