Brazilians’ Christmas dinner is 9.54% more expensive this year, compared to the end of last year, according to a survey carried out by the Federation of Commerce of Goods, Services and Tourism of the State of São Paulo (FecomercioSP).
Based on information from the Broad Consumer Price Index (IPCA-15), from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the entity points out that increases in items such as potatoes, olive oil, rice and garlic, throughout 2024, were largely responsible for the increase in the price of the food basket included in Christmas dinner.
“It is a rate above even the country’s general inflation, which, in the last 12 months until November, was 4.77%”, highlighted FecomercioSP.
The entity recommends that consumers try to make purchases on promotion days, which is a common strategy for establishments at this time of year. Taking advantage of offers available on apps and paying for purchases via PIX can also guarantee more discounts.
Anticipating purchases is another possibility highlighted by the entity “because the consumption of these items heats up as the end of year festivities approach and, therefore, the products become rarer (and more expensive) on the shelves”.
Items
The potato is the Christmas dinner item that had the biggest price increase, with a variation of 30.82% in one year, according to the FecomercioSP survey. Subsequently, the price of olive oil became 28.58% higher. Other supper products that have become more expensive are milk (21.78%), rice (19.58%) and garlic (19.48%).
The price of meat in general rose 11.44% in one year, while fish saw a more subtle price increase of just 1.32%.
The data shows that some products became cheaper in the same period, such as carrots (-26.08%), tomatoes (-25.15%) and onions (-6.66%). “Although they do not reverse the higher costs of the supper, they are products that can be enjoyed by consumers”, indicated FecomercioSP.
The products analyzed are potatoes, olive oil, long-life milk, rice, garlic, fruits, meat, chocolate bars and bonbons, olives, chocolate powder, whole chicken, powdered milk, green scent, coriander, soda and mineral water, ice cream, beer, cheese, sweet bread, French bread, salt, fish, refined sugar, wheat flour, cassava flour, chicken eggs, onions, tomatoes and carrots.
In the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (RMSP), the increase is even greater. The data compiled by the entity shows that the increase will be 12.05%, analyzing the set of items, except coriander and salt. The most expensive products are repeated: potatoes (34.07%), olive oil (26.76%) and milk (25.77%).
