Cost of Christmas dinner slightly less than last year

Christmas cheer will be easier to come by this year, with the cost of Christmas dinner down a few dollars on last year.

Families opting for a traditional Christmas dinner will ring in savings of $1.70, while those planning on a Kiwi barbecue are in line for a 90-cent saving, according to Statistics New Zealand.

The estimated cost of both options for a family of two adults and two children had come out the same, at $48.80, government statistician Geoff Bascand said.

Barbecue fan Andrew Brodie, who will carry on the Christmas barbecue tradition this year, said the extra money would not make a difference in any respect except one. "I'll probably put it towards more expensive wine."

This year's Christmas bill would be higher than last year's, but only because he had a more successful year and wanted to splash out.

Groceries to stock up on this year include whole chicken and kumara, which fell 50 cents and 40 cents respectively, and steak and potatoes, which fell 40 cents and 30 cents.

The cost of the traditional Christmas dinner has risen $13.50 in the past 10 years, compared with the $11.10 barbecue dinner increase over the same period.

Lamb, chicken, steak and pavlova are the Christmas delicacies that have increased in price the most in that time.

- © Fairfax NZ News