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.

Alanna Glenn's headshot

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
20152 DecemberWoolworthsSource
201516 DecemberWoolworthsSource
201630 NovemberWoolworthsSource
20167 DecemberWoolworthsSource
201614 DecemberWoolworthsSource
201621 DecemberWoolworthsSource
20176 DecemberWoolworthsSource
20176 DecemberColesSource
201713 DecemberWoolworthsSource
201720 DecemberWoolworthsSource
20185 DecemberWoolworthsSource
201812 DecemberWoolworthsSource
201819 DecemberWoolworthsSource
20194 DecemberColesSource
201911 DecemberWoolworthsSource
201918 DecemberWoolworthsSource
20202 DecemberWoolworthsSource
202016 DecemberWoolworthsSource
202023 DecemberWoolworthsSource
20211 DecemberWoolworthsSource
20211 DecemberColesSource
20218 DecemberWoolworthsSource
202115 DecemberWoolworthsSource
202122 DecemberWoolworthsSource
2022Prices at 6 DecemberWoolworthsSource

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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Publisher

Alanna Glenn was the lead publisher for money at Finder. She has an Honours Bachelor of Commerce from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada and likes to get into the nitty gritty of all things financial and legal. See full bio

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