Warning to households as cost of Christmas dinner rises three times faster than wages
HOUSEHOLDS have seen the cost of a Christmas dinner rocket three times faster than wages this year, a study shows.
Traditional fare such as turkey, pigs in blankets and roast potatoes have risen by an average 18 per cent.
Fresh or frozen veg is up nearly 12 per cent, potatoes by a fifth and the festive bird by 19 per cent, the Trades Union Congress found.
Shoppers have even seen bread sauce and cranberry sauce go up a third.
The prices have risen faster than inflation, currently at 11.1 per cent, with wages just going up 5.7 per cent.
Pay would be up £76 a week it had kept pace with the price of a turkey, the TUC say.
The union also say workers are being hit by the cost of cooking due to higher energy bills.
The organisation is calling for pay rises to go up with the cost-of-living and the minimum wage to be increased to £15 an hour for public sector workers.
General secretary Frances O’Grady said: “Everyone should be able to enjoy turkey and all the trimmings while they relax with their family, but soaring food and energy prices mean many families will struggle to afford the festivities.”