Festive food takes a dive

A slap-up Christmas dinner will put a smaller dent in the wallet this year, as average prices of popular festive foods have remained the same or dropped slightly on last year, Statistics New Zealand figures show.

Those who cook from scratch will be best off, as prices of staples such as eggs, milk, flour, butter and fruit are falling.

The Christmas pavlova will be cheaper, as eggs have dropped in price from $3.55 a dozen to $3.21. But decorating the top with kiwifruit will cost slightly more, as the fruit has increased from $2.53 to $2.74 a kilo.

Most fresh vegetables are cheaper, with broccoli and potatoes down 50c a kilo.

The price of the summer barbecue is similar, with the cost of beef steaks down, and lamb slightly up.

There's been little change for Christmas hams, said Claire Vogtherr from Holly Bacon. A half-ham will set shoppers back between $60 and $80.

A turkey will cost a little extra though as the cost of feed for the birds doubled last year.

Phillip Crozier from Crozier's Turkeys, near Ashburton, said the extra cost had added about $1 a kilo to the wholesale price.

Ordered online, a free-range turkey costs between $58 and $110.

Clinton Beuvink from Auckland's Nosh Food Market said hams from its in-house butchery ranged from $90 for a 4.5kg ham to $120.

The price of fresh produce, such as strawberries, would depend on weather conditions.

"We're probably going to see reasonably good pricing, not as extreme during Christmas week. But we should hope for a sunny Christmas - if it's looking dire, get in quick."