Christmas dinner rose almost twice as much as official inflation; South has higher price

Brazilians’ Christmas dinner was 8.9% more expensive in 2023, compared to last year. It is almost double the country’s official average inflation in the same period, 4.68%, according to the Broad National Consumer Price Index (IPCA).

The complete package costs an average of R$321.13 in supermarkets across the country. Last year, the cost was R$294.75, according to research by the Brazilian Supermarket Association (Abras).

The survey considers ten items in the basket: Christmas bird, olive oil, box of chocolates, sparkling wine, loin, panettone, ham, turkey, cider and tender. The price of olive oil was, by far, what rose the most.

Average price of a Christmas basket in Brazil (source: Abras)

Christmas dinner inflation varies depending on the region. In the Southeast, for example, it should be 12.2% more expensive than in 2022. In the South, the increase was 10.7% and in the Central-West, 9.7%. In the Northeast the price increased by 7.9% and in the North, by 4.6%.

The most expensive basket is the South (R$ 333.44), followed by the Northeast (R$ 321.65), North (R$ 320.43), Southeast (R$ 316.84) and Central-West (R$ $313.30).

The Abras survey was carried out between the 10th and 23rd of November and, despite the rise in prices, supermarkets expect consumption to be 62% higher than that observed last year.

The increase in consumption, according to Abras, will be driven by drinks and proteins (poultry, cod and other meats). The sector’s estimate is that the consumption of beers, sparkling wines, soft drinks, juices, imported wines and national wines will grow by 12% and that of meat, by 10%.