Finder’s Christmas lunch prices 2022: Methodology

How we dived into the cost of Christmas past – and found a number of festive foods to be on par with 2015.

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By

Alanna Glenn

Updated

To source the data for this article, I scoured dozens of old Woolworths and Coles catalogues (available online) from 2015 onward. I tracked the regular price for each Christmas lunch item that was consistently available from year to year.

Most items were standard in brand and size. However, I did have to make some assumptions and equivalences which are described below.

Price data: 2015 – 2022

Catalogue sources

If you'd like to review my research or do some of your own, you can find links to all the catalogues below.

YearEditionRetailerLink
2015
2 December
Woolworths
2015
16 December
Woolworths
2016
30 November
Woolworths
2016
7 December
Woolworths
2016
14 December
Woolworths
2016
21 December
Woolworths
2017
6 December
Woolworths
2017
6 December
Coles
2017
13 December
Woolworths
2017
20 December
Woolworths
2018
5 December
Woolworths
2018
12 December
Woolworths
2018
19 December
Woolworths
2019
4 December
Coles
2019
11 December
Woolworths
2019
18 December
Woolworths
2020
2 December
Woolworths
2020
16 December
Woolworths
2020
23 December
Woolworths
2021
1 December
Woolworths
2021
1 December
Coles
2021
8 December
Woolworths
2021
15 December
Woolworths
2021
22 December
Woolworths
2022
Prices at 6 December
Woolworths

Assumptions and equivalences

  • Mangoes: Kensington Pride and Calypso mangoes were treated the same.
  • Potatoes: 2kg bags of washed potatoes were converted to 4kg of brushed potatoes based on the 9 November price differential of 100%.
  • Butter: 500g blocks and other name brand blocks were converted to a 250g block of Western Star based on the 9 November price differentials.
    • Western Star original butter 250g: $4.30
    • Western Star original butter 500g: $7.00
    • Devondale butter 500g: $8.50
    • Devondale butter 250g: $5.30
  • Buttery spread: Other name brand spreads were converted to 500g tub of Western Star based on the 9 November price differentials.
    • Western Star original spreadable 500g: $6.00
    • Devondale buttery spread 500g: $7.50
  • Cream: 600mL containers and Woolworths brand tubs were converted to 300mL Bulla thickened cream based on 9 November price differentials.
    • Woolworths thickened cream 600mL: $4.20
    • Woolworths thickened cream 300mL: $2.60
    • Bulla thickened cream 600mL: $5.35
    • Bulla thickened cream 300mL: $2.85
  • Coca-Cola: 2L bottles were converted to 1.25L prices based on 9 November price differential of 3%.
  • 12 white rolls: Woolworths Select and Menissez brands were treated the same.

Find information and tips on how to navigate the high cost of living in Australia.

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Written by

Money Expert

Alanna Glenn is an experienced personal finance expert who is passionate about delving into the nitty-gritty of complex financial and legal topics. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) from McMaster University and a Canadian Securities Course (CSC) certification from the Canadian Securities Institute. Alanna worked at Finder in various roles from 2017 to 2024. See full bio

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