Kathimerini.com.cy
The Cyprus Consumers Association conducted a survey on the cost of the Christmas table as part of its foundation's mission to protect and provide consumers with more complete information. The survey was conducted from December 12 to December 21, 2022.
Three retail price surveys were carried out in total. The prices were obtained from the four largest supermarkets in Nicosia as well as six smaller supermarkets. It should be noted that the survey only included 35 food and drink items and covered Nicosia and Paphos.
The survey's goal was to determine the cost of a Christmas table in 2022, not to compare prices between different retailers. Furthermore, the survey began early in order to determine whether prices varied as Christmas Day approached and whether certain product offers would still be available between now and Christmas.
The survey used the data to calculate the cost of a Christmas table for four and six people. The cost of the Christmas table included the quantities of each item that a family of four and a family of six would normally require. A 5% surcharge should be added to the total cost for the various extra items needed at the table, such as water, lemons, salt, oil, vinegar, napkins, and so on.
The following are the survey's key findings and conclusions:
-An "opulent" table includes 35 items. In Nicosia, a family of four will pay 166 euros, while a family of six will pay 241 euros. A Christmas table in the Paphos province costs 178 euros and 255 euros, respectively.
-A 'budget' table includes 19 of 35 items. In Nicosia, a family of four will pay 92 euros, while a family of six will pay 119 euros. A Christmas table in the Paphos province costs 95 euros and 127 euros, respectively.
-Low-income families are expected to include 11 out of 35 items. It is estimated that a family of four will pay €24 and a family of six will pay €37 in Nicosia. The cost of a Christmas table in Paphos province is the same as it is in Nicosia.
-Fluctuations were observed in a small number of products in the survey between December 12 and December 21, but they cannot be regarded as significant.
-A number of survey items were available at discounted prices. The promotional prices were maintained from the start of the survey to the end of the survey and were thus factored into the cost of the Christmas table as a whole.
-The only prices that are expected to change between now and Christmas are the prices of vegetables, which are expected to remain unchanged.
-There is particular interest in the cost of the Christmas table among the three different categories, namely the "rich," "thrifty," and "weaker economic income" tables. We can predict how people with lower economic incomes will deal with financial difficulties.
-Significant price differences between outlets were observed for Christmas treats. However, as these items can differ significantly in terms of the materials used in their preparation, and even in their exact weight, their comparison cannot be considered reliable and objective, and is therefore not commented on in the survey.
[This article was translated from its Greek original]
