Connect with us

Published

on

This year rising costs are adding an extra pinch of spice to festive dinner planning.

With Christmas just weeks away, Sky News looks at the numbers to uncover how your shopping list has changed, from the turkey on the table to the Baileys in your glass.

For meat eaters, the star of the Christmas dinner table, the turkey, is gobbling up 4% more cash this year. The average price per kilo has risen to £4.39 from £4.22 in 2023, according to data from market research firm Assosia, which tracks average pre-promotion prices across Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Morrisons.

Rising turkey costs have been driven by high inflation, increased grain and energy prices, and challenges in securing seasonal farm labour following Brexit.

“Over the last three seasons, inflation has been a factor but inflation was astronomical in 2022 for feed and energy,” said Jonathan Smith, a farmer at Great Garnetts Farm.

“As much as the price of feed has come off a little bit, the energy still remains significantly higher than it was. The availability of labour and what you have to pay to get labour, is also increasing.

“We’ve not been able to reduce costs but this season I haven’t seen as much inflationary pressure as I’d seen in the previous two seasons.”

More on Christmas

Read more from Sky News:
UK’s fragile food security can be traced to demise of farming’s golden age

Top chefs name their favourite cheap eats

Labour’s Autumn Budget announcement to increase national insurance contributions for businesses has raised further concerns.

“It makes us look at what we’re doing and question whether it’s worth it,” Mr Smith said about the change.

“We have 10 full-time staff year-round and recruit up to 30 seasonal workers in December. The government isn’t doing my business any favours right now.”

Potatoes have seen the sharpest price hike, with a 2-2.5kg bag of Maris Piper potatoes going from £1.52 to £1.86, a rise of 41%.

Other festive favourites are also costing more:

  • Pigs in blankets: up 3%, from £2.66 to £2.75
  • Christmas pudding: up 7%, from £3.68 to £3.95
  • Mince pies: up 5%, from £1.80 to £1.89

Part of the rise in the cost of mince pies could be due to two years of poor sultana harvests in Turkey.

There is some good news, though. Onion gravy granules and brussel sprouts are 7% cheaper, providing a small but savoury win.

A veggie Christmas

If your Christmas plate is plant-based, there’s a mixed bag of news.

The cost of a Quorn family roast has risen by 5%, now priced at £3.75, reflecting the overall trend of rising food prices.

However, there’s some relief for those with dietary restrictions, as free-from stuffing has dropped by 8%, offering a small saving for festive tables.

Unfortunately, free-from mince pies haven’t escaped inflation, with their price increasing by 5%, echoing the rise seen in traditional mince pies.

Drinks

It’s not all doom and gloom when it comes to drinks.

Mulled wine has become 3% cheaper, now costing £3.25, while Baileys has stayed steady at £21.99 – though it remains the priciest item on the festive shopping list.

For non-alcoholic drinkers, lemonade and orange juice prices haven’t changed.

Prices over time

While Baileys hasn’t changed in price since 2023, it has seen a significant increase over the past four years. Since 2020, the festive favourite has risen by £3.34, nearly a fifth more expensive than its cost back then.

Free-from stuffing has gone down by 15p and mulled wine has stayed as it was in 2020.


The Data and Forensics team is a multi-skilled unit dedicated to providing transparent journalism from Sky News. We gather, analyse and visualise data to tell data-driven stories. We combine traditional reporting skills with advanced analysis of satellite images, social media and other open source information. Through multimedia storytelling we aim to better explain the world while also showing how our journalism is done.

Continue Reading

UK

Body found in search for missing jogger Jenny Hall

Published

on

By

Body found in search for missing jogger Jenny Hall

A body has been found in the search for 23-year-old runner Jenny Hall. 

She was last seen leaving her home in Barracks Farm, County Durham, in her car just after 3pm on Tuesday.

Police said there are not thought to be any suspicious circumstances after a body was found in a very remote area in Teesdale on Sunday morning, five days after she went missing.

Jenny Hall. Pic: Durham Constabulary
Image:
Jenny Hall went missing on Tuesday. Pic: Durham Constabulary

“We’re sorry to report that officers searching for missing woman Jenny Hall, have sadly found a body,” Durham Constabulary said in a statement.

“Officers carried out an extensive search alongside specialist partners and have been working around-the-clock to locate Jenny after she went missing on February 18.

“The body was found in a very remote area in Teesdale just after 9.30am today.

“Formal identification has yet to take place. Jenny’s family have been notified and are currently being supported by specialist officers. They have asked for privacy at this devasting time.

“It is not believed there are any suspicious circumstances and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

A major police search was launched after Ms Hall’s disappearance.

Her car, a red Ford Focus, was found on Wednesday parked on the B6278, near remote moorland between Eggleston and Stanhope.

Mountain rescue teams, specialist drones and sniffer dogs had been combing the Hamsterley Forest and the surrounding areas, where there are a number of running trails, this week.

Digital intelligence officers also carried out extensive inquiries into Ms Hall’s mobile phone, smart watch and running apps.

Continue Reading

UK

Fresh amber warning for rain as Met Office issues alerts for much of UK

Published

on

By

Fresh amber warning for rain as Met Office issues alerts for much of UK

A fresh amber weather warning for heavy rain has been issued by the Met Office – with much of the UK already on alert for high winds and showers.

Northern Ireland, Scotland and the UK’s west coast and the Midlands have yellow warnings for wind on Sunday – meaning the possibility of transport delays and short-term power cuts.

There are also rain warnings in place for several parts of western UK.

The new amber warning has been issued for rain in south and central Wales and is in force from 3pm on Sunday to 6am on Monday.

An amber warning means danger to life from floodwater, homes and businesses are likely to be flooded, and there is a chance some communities will be cut off.

Winds across the west of the UK will increase throughout the morning with gusts up to 70mph in exposed areas, the Met Office said.

Zoe Hutin, a meteorologist at the forecaster, said Sunday is expected to be the “worst day” before conditions improve.

“The wind warning itself for the mainland UK ends at 6pm, but we can expect to continue to see quite blustery conditions even into the evening as the mainland rain itself pushes through.”

She added: “By the time people get up on Monday, we’ll still have some of the residual rain from that front in the far south-east of the country, and quite cloudy across England as well.

“But actually elsewhere, it could be a decent start.”

The Met Office’s yellow weather warnings for much of England and Scotland came into force at 6am and are expected to run until 6pm on Sunday.

A separate yellow warning for Northern Ireland came into force at 3am and runs until 3pm.

Rain and high winds are expected across the west of the UK
Image:
Rain and high winds are expected across the west of the UK

Read more from Sky News:
Motorways closed after human remains found
Starmer asks US to stand by Ukraine

People who have noticed some slightly higher temperatures the last couple of days may be dismayed at the latest predictions.

“Through the week, those temperatures are trending back down,” Ms Hutin said.

“And so it will be getting cooler each day, but they will actually just be recovering to around average for the time of year. So it won’t be cold.

“It will just be returning back to where we would expect to be for this time of February.”

Continue Reading

UK

Starmer says ‘US is right’ about UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence

Published

on

By

Starmer says 'US is right' about UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence

Sir Keir Starmer has said the United States “is right” about the UK and Europe needing to take more responsibility for defence and security.

The prime minister, speaking at the Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow on Sunday, said he is clear Britain “will take a leading responsibility” in protecting the continent.

“Instability in Europe always washes up on our shores,” he said.

“And this is a generational moment. I’ve been saying for some time that we Europeans – including the United Kingdom – have to do more for our defence and security. The US is right about that.”

He added “we can’t cling to the comforts of the past” as it is “time to take responsibility for our security”.

Politics latest: Starmer’s stinging rebuke of Reform

Donald Trump sparked an emergency meeting of European leaders this week after he said European NATO members should spend more on defence, while the US should spend less.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Will Trump and Starmer have a ‘Love Actually’ moment?

Sir Keir has said he will set out a path for the UK to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence, up from the current 2.3%, but has not indicated when that will be.

It is believed he may announce the details when he visits Mr Trump in Washington DC on Thursday, bringing forward the announcement that was expected in the spring when a defence spending review is published.

The prime minister reiterated the UK will “play our role” if required in Ukraine following a peace agreement after he earlier this week said the UK would send troops to be part of a peacekeeping force.

Pic: AP
Image:
Sir Keir will meet Donald Trump in the White House on Thursday. Pic: AP

However, his comments caused a row with Germany and Italy who said it was premature to commit to boots on the ground, although France agreed with the UK.

Sir Keir said: “As we enter a new phase in this conflict, we must now deepen our solidarity even further.”

He added: “There can be no discussion about Ukraine without Ukraine.

“And the people of Ukraine must have long-term security.”

Read more:
Starmer tells Zelenskyy this is ‘significant moment’ for European security
Sombre Starmer and Europe confront emerging new world order

This week has seen US officials meet their Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia to discuss Ukraine – which has been met with indignation by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as none of his team were invited.

No Europeans were invited either, sparking concern the US is pandering to Vladimir Putin.

Sir Keir has promised Mr Zelenskyy he will make the case for safeguarding Ukraine’s sovereignty when he meets with Mr Trump, who has called the Ukrainian president a dictator.

Mr Trump also said Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron, who will visit the White House too this week, “haven’t done anything” to end the war.

Continue Reading

Trending