Christmas eating, drinking becoming costly affair

Press, 19 December 1985, Page 32

Christmas eating, drinking becoming costly affair

By

MARGARET BAKER

consumer reporter Eating, drinking and being merry at Christmas time is becoming a costly business.

For a family of six (two parents, two children, two grandparents), “The Press” Christmas “basket” would add an extra $252 to your monthly grocery bill. Based on “the average Kiwi family Christmas dinner,” as first reported in 1977, the cost is evenly split between food and drinks. At $126.29, the price of the Christmas “basket” has increased by about 25 per cent since last year’s total of $100.83. In 1977, the same items cost $53.23.

The only things to have decreased in price since last year were muscatels and almonds, but the difference in price is small and could well be due to “specials” encouraging people to buy. This year’s un-iced Christmas cake ingredients came to $17.03, but I saw I.4kg iced cakes selling for $11.65 in a variety of supermarkets. A Ikg uniced wholemeal cake was priced at $6.84, and on the luxury end of the range a 900 g canned dark fruit cake from Australia was $11.43.

The biggest increase in

the price of the cake ingredients was raisins, up $1.02 since last year, and in the cost of the decoration and frill.

The groaning Christmas dinner table showed increases in the price of all items, except the almonds and muscatels.

A 4kg turkey cost, on average, $35.10, compared with $25.99 in 1984. I saw a I.skg turkey for $15.71, and an Bkg one for $59.95. One retailer said turkeys were selling exceptionally well this year, and another said orders had not been able to be filled. This could be because the high price of Christmas hams, is making people choose turkeys for their main meal.

This year’s price for ham was based on an average of $7 a kg for ham on the bone, taking a 6kg leg. I saw a smaller 2kg smoked leg ham roll for $l9, and boneless ham in a leg shape for sB.4okg. Meat eating aside, a big increase in the price of new potatoes added to the final bill. Last year skg cost $2.95, and this year the figure has jumped to $5.65. Prices per kg ranged from 88c to $1.28 between the supermarkets I visited. Carrots also increased from 59c to 97c a bunch,

with some selling at $1.15. Fresh peas were selling at up to $2 a kg. The final touch for the first course was the cranberry sauce, with a 250 g jar costing $2.89. I saw the same jar selling for $3.44 in another shop. Dessert, while wicked in content, showed no outrageous price increases. A 700 g plum pudding ranged in price from $3.65 to $4.66, with smaller 350 g puddings selling for $2.15. The largest I saw was 800 g for $4.79. Fresh strawberries were usually 99c a punnet, with some selling for $1.19. Before, in-between and after nibbles (which you never have room for but eat anyway) showed slight increases in price. Cashew nuts were $2.38 for IOOg, compared with $1.90 last year, with 250 g costing anything between $5.29 and $6.81. A dozen mince pies cost $3.98, 20c more than in 1984. Some “in-house” pies selling from the delicatessen counters were more expensive, costing up to $4.70. A great range of chocolates was available, but the average for 500 g of Roses seemed to be $6.49. One supermarket was selling these for $5.99 with a

coupon, or $8.60 without — a $2.61 saving. Last year the pick and mix chocolate selections at $5.75 for 500 g provided good value, but this year the price has increased to $6.50, making little difference between choosing your own or buying a ready packaged selection.

Then of course, you can go for the really special goodies if you’re feeling expansive, and expensive. For (just) $11.95 you could have IOOg of English liqueur chocolates in miniature bottle shapes, or IOOg of liqueur cherries at $3.69. Rose and lemon, and Creme de Menthe Turkish Delight was selling for $6.99 for 200 g, and chocolate ginger at $4.75 for 150 g. The standard New Zealand Christmas present, the biscuit tin, cost $15.40 for a 1.75 kg Griffins tin, and $11.89 for a 750 g Hudsons assortment. Griffins shortbread was $6.85 for 750 g, and chocolate fingers were $4.42 for 500 g. Crackers for the Christmas table were anything between $4.59 and $10.55, depending on quality. A new line that might interest parents and help fill stockings is small packets of Bluebird chips, twisties and rashuns, selling in

groups of 10 for $2.60. The liquor bill takes up the other half of the Christmas “grocery” spending. Sparkling and still wines have come down in price because of the wine glut, but spirit prices have increased sizeably. A 750 ml bottle of whisky cost $22.50, about $7 more than last year. Beer has also increased slightly. The total bill was $125.92.

Spending $252.21 on food and drink for just one day is especialy thought-provoking when the grocery bill for a whole month only comes to $195.81. Christmas could well be beginning to price itself off the market. You certainly can’t afford to over-cook the turkey or burn the cake. But still, it is the festive season and New Zealanders can be particularly stubborn about their Christmas dinner.

I mean, we still prepare enormous hot meals for 30deg. days. There’s just something about it that lettuce salads and green jellies just can’t quite match. Have a happy Christmas, and don’t forget that after Christmas dinner you still have to get through Christmas tea with the rest of the relations.