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Having a Christmas gathering this year? Why you should expect the feast to cost more
NY Post ^ | December 19, 2024 | FOX Business Staff

Posted on 12/23/2024 7:05:05 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin

Millions of Americans are gearing up for Christmas celebrations, with many planning to spend time with loved ones and cook food for the holiday.

Nearly three quarters of American consumers celebrating Christmas have plans to get together with family and friends, and 33% will have people over, according to a Numerator survey.

It also found 61% intend to cook or bake at their homes for the holiday.

With Christmas quickly approaching, many of those planning to cook are likely readying their grocery lists – and pocketbooks – for the occasion.

As a whole, a Christmas meal and gingerbread, a popular holiday treat, will be costlier in the U.S. this year thanks to popular ingredients experiencing year-over-year price increases, Expana reported.

The commodity data provider said found prices for the main meal – measured by the Main Meal Index as part of its Christmas Dinner Index – posted a 2.3% jump from last year. It looked at turkey, pork, beef, shrimp, lamb, potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots and turnips.

That rise in price was “largely driven by higher prices for pork, lamb, shrimp and some vegetables,” according to Expana’s report.

All of the meats that Expana tracked for the Main Meal Index apart from turkey went up from last year. The cost of a 16-pound frozen turkey showed a 13.7% drop from last November, coming in at $1.07 per pound on average, it found.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Agriculture; Business/Economy; Food
KEYWORDS: christmas; feast; food

1 posted on 12/23/2024 7:05:05 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
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To: FRiends
"Meanwhile, the report observed a lift of 5.5% in its Gingerbread Index consisting of wheat flour, sugar, butter, eggs, ginger and cassia. The jump was largely linked to costs of egg and sugar."


2 posted on 12/23/2024 7:10:46 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
I have to pick up the roast beast and Tiramisu today.

Prime Rib (Choice) 5 rib was on sale at the local grocery store at $9.99/pound. Had to order it two weeks ago.

3 posted on 12/23/2024 7:14:34 AM PST by woodbutcher1963
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

Well thank you Captain obvious!


4 posted on 12/23/2024 7:20:27 AM PST by Maskot (Put every dem/lib in prison........like yesterday!!! )
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

My sister is doing the dinner this year. I’m bringing dessert.

We’re going to our rural compound Christmas Eve day and I’m making tacos, wine and Christmas cookies for us and a friend. We’re going to turn on the schmalzy country western Christmas music and live it up. 😉

Here’s wishing all Freepers A Merry Christmas from me and Mr. GG2.


5 posted on 12/23/2024 7:29:09 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

No thanks on the turnips!

We are ordering Chinese food this year (family tradition on Christmas) - prices are sky high for food delivery, but it is Christmas.


6 posted on 12/23/2024 8:32:44 AM PST by Bon of Babble (You Say You Want a Revolution?)
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To: Bon of Babble; FRiends

We’re not ‘feasting’ until the 28th & 29th and others are cooking and/or we’re doing Pot Luck. Easy-Peasy this season. :)

For Beau and I for Christmas Dinner, we usually do a Seafood Feast, but that’s not in the budget this year. In fact, NOTHING is, ‘in the budget’ until President Trump is sworn back in. ;) I’m using the same ‘Continuing Resolution’ that I’ve used each year these past four years of un-elected, inflicted Socialist H#ll! ;)

So, I found a nice small ham, I’ll make Cauliflower with Burnt Butter (just like Grandma used to make) and some homemade Sourdough bread and then something ‘green.’ Probably Green Beans.

“God Bless Us, Every One!”


7 posted on 12/23/2024 9:00:57 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Georgia Girl 2

8 posted on 12/23/2024 9:02:41 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

The only way it cannot is if the ones doing an “analysis” wait ‘til the last minute and pick out (out, not up) stuff on sale.


9 posted on 12/23/2024 9:37:54 AM PST by bobbo666
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To: Bon of Babble

That’s one of the million reasons we cook at home. Chinese is our go to cheapo meal using up leftovers in mu shu, yummy yum yum yum!!! A dozen homemade wraps cost what one lonely single wrap does from a store bought package.

In the past, Thanksgiving would cost $33-35 for the whole spread including the biggest 20+ lb turkey at the store. This year, it took a bit of thinking to get the price down to $40 but only with our smallest turkey ever at 16 lb., grrr. Grandma is making Christmas dinner with ham that doesn’t seem to be on sale this year so that’s going to run the price up.


10 posted on 12/23/2024 10:20:42 AM PST by bgill
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To: Diana in Wisconsin
We will be having ribs as we will be going to Grandma's the next day where we will have the more traditional Christmas Dinner.

So ribs, cornbread, green beans, salt baked potatoes and Christmas Salad. Strawberry Cheesecake for desert.

And Third Cub is turning into pretty good cook so he is doing the cheesecake and cornbread. DH will be doing the ribs and potatoes on the grill. All I have to do is the beans and the salad. I LIKE this way of doing things. :)

11 posted on 12/23/2024 10:39:13 AM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear ( Not my circus. Not my monkeys. But I can pick out the clowns at 100 yards.)
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To: Harmless Teddy Bear

The Pilgrims knew what they were doing - everyone brings a dish to pass!

And here I thought it was the Lutherans that thought that up... ;)


12 posted on 12/23/2024 10:41:59 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have, 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: Diana in Wisconsin

We were spending around $70 a week at the grocery store a couple of years ago. The same purchase is now about $100.


13 posted on 12/23/2024 11:05:40 AM PST by Seruzawa ("The Political left is the Garden of Eden of incompetence" - Marx the Smarter (Groucho))
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To: bgill

Around here, SW AR, ham doesn’t seem to be at a reduced cost. Plenty of ham is available but not exactly cheap.


14 posted on 12/23/2024 12:23:31 PM PST by AceMineral (One day men will beg for chains.)
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