Cost of Christmas rises sharply

The average cost of Christmas dinner in the UK has risen sharply since last year.

According to ONS figures revealed today, average retail prices for a basket of goods are up over 7%, with European red wines increasing more than 14%, Champagne rising by almost 9% and New World whites up by 8%.

However, the greatest increases come for those wanting biscuits with their cheese this Christmas, with cream crackers up on average by almost 51%, from 55 pence to 83p.

On the other hand, the price of vegetables has mostly fallen, with carrots down by 20% and potatoes by 10% since last year.

As for after turkey treats other than the traditional Christmas pudding, the ONS data shows that the price of sponge cake has jumped by over 18% and ice cream is up 6%.

Meanwhile, ground coffee has gone up almost 21% and chocolates have increase in price by just under 7%.

The full results (prices in pence):

Item Description                         Nov-10         Nov-11        % change

Fresh chilled chicken, per kg       293               314               7.2%

Fresh turkey steaks, per kg         785               815               3.8%

Bacon, gammon, per kg               642              708              10.3%

Bacon, back, per kg                     858               911               6.2%

Sausages, pork, per kg                410               433              5.6%

Potatoes, old white, per kg            67                 60             -10.4%

Potatoes, new, per kg                  155               141             -9.0%

Cauliflower, each                          79                  84              6.3%

Carrots, per kg                              78                  62           -20.5%

Broccoli, per kg                           203                 212             4.4%

Frozen garden peas                    153                160              4.6%

Ice cream                                    217                 230              6.0%

Whole sponge cake, not frozen  110                  130            18.2%

Fresh double cream                     97                   96              -1.0%

Hard cheese, regional                697                  709              1.7%

Cream crackers, packet               55                    83             50.9%

Carton/box of chocolates           419                   447              6.7%

Coffee, ground, filter fine           244                    295             20.9%

Bottle of champagne                2665                  2893              8.6%

Red wine, European, bottle       493                    563             14.2%

White wine, New World, bottle  607                    656               8.1%

Fortified wine, bottle                  655                    730              11.5%

TOTAL                                      9982                10732              7.5%